Thousands of farmers in Suqian city of Jiangsu province have moved into their new homes since the end of the spring festival holiday as the local governments have stepped up their efforts to spur rural development and reduce poverty through the improvement of rural housing conditions.
272 two-storied houses have been delivered to the local farmers in Xinzhuang town of Suyu district, Suqian city. Starting last September, local government redesigned the architectural styles, layout and interior functions of the new homes by combing the rustic landscape with modern elements. According to the goal set forth in the latter half of 2017, 500 two-storied houses will be built in the town.
To improve rural living conditions, it is more important to meet the people's all-round demand for housing, living, and employment.
In the process of promoting the improvement of housing conditions for the farmers, authorities in Suqian have adhered to systematic thinking to improve supporting facilities while planning industrial development at the same time.
Centralized residential projects plan and build all supporting infrastructures, and optimize the allocation of public service resources such as schools, medical care, cultural and sports care so as to adapt to changes in centralized living.
In the New Year, on the basis of the existing achievements, the Suqian Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government have issued the No. 1 document, focusing on 100 people's livelihood issues with a view to improving the income of urban and rural residents, getting rid of poverty, and improving the farmers’ housing conditions as the biggest livelihood project.
Efforts have been made to fully respect the wishes of farmers, improve the layout of villages and towns, maintain the traditional pattern and style, and establish cooperation with Nanjing University, Southeast University and other universities to perfect the design for the project.
Local authorities have also mapped out plans to give full play to the development of specialty industries to support migrant workers to start their own businesses at home.
China announced a strategy in the No 1 central document of 2018 to make its rural areas more prosperous.
Hoping for a better life, millions of young rural laborers have left their hometowns to work in cities, leaving old people and children in the villages.
The return of skilled and experienced migrant workers can help promote social and economic development in rural areas and ultimately invigorate rural development, analysts say.
China had more than 286.5 million migrant workers at the end of 2017, up 1.7 percent from one year earlier, and the pace of growth picked up from 1.5 percent in 2016 and 1.3 percent in 2015.
More than 7 million migrant workers have returned to their hometowns to start their own businesses, and each new entrepreneur helps boost local employment by providing jobs for about four people on average, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.
(Source：ourjiangsu.com)
