Better poverty alleviation

While addressing the problems in the poverty alleviation mechanism in the near future, the authorities should raise the efficacy of the inputs of both money and other resources.

Improving the livelihoods of people in poverty and reducing the poor population will be "major indicators" of the performance of officials in poor regions. A central government document released on Friday made clear that the changes are "to guide" local officials to make poverty reduction a priority.

Local leaders are also to be given more say in how the financial aid is allocated, so that it can be used where it is most needed.

Despite what has been achieved in poverty alleviation efforts, the auditing of financial aid to 19 counties in six provinces last year found the diversion of such aid for other purposes. Getting such money with forged figures and even wasting the money in different ways were not rare.

There are instances where some local leaders have tried hard to keep their counties on the list of poor ones just so they can continue to receive financial aid from the central government.

As Liu Yongfu, head of the State Council's poverty alleviation office, said during a news conference on Monday, these challenges would be addressed to ensure those in need receive adequate support and the funds are used appropriately.

However, poverty alleviation is not just a matter of giving financial aid, it is also a matter of how that aid can benefit the right recipient and how any assistance given can be made to work most effectively.

Reforming the evaluation system for officials from poor counties by prioritizing their poverty reduction efforts rather than regional GDP should encourage them to help poor rural villagers shake off poverty. And giving them decision-making power on how the financial aid is allocated will likely raise the efficiency of such aid, as they should know where the needy are and how destitute the aid recipients are.

The new guideline says county-level authorities should collect information on each village and household in poverty to form a nationwide information network.

However, there is a risk that the money will be abused or even embezzled without tighter supervision being in place.

That explains why the central government has emphasized that supervision by higher-level government is particularly important and must be strengthened to ensure the best allocation and use of poverty relief money.

A set of rules now in the pipeline for the management of this special fund will hopefully add teeth to the watchdogs.