Poverty Reduction Cooperation of Hainan Province China

Source:

1. Writings of Wang Yuanyu and Wang Zhong, Poverty Reduction Office based upon an interviews made by them of the 136 units involved in the poverty reduction programme and an investigation and study on 45 supported townships.

2. Publications in Selected Cases of Poverty Reduction , China State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development

3. Meetings with independent researchers at the China School of Administration and Beijing School of Administration.

Location of the Project

Photograph showing the location of Hainan island below the mainland China in the South China Sea

HAINAN PROVINCE

Hainan Province is one of the youngest provinces in China which was established only in 1988. Soonafter it was designated as a Special Economic Zone leading to become the key economic city in China.

It is a collection of many islands such as Lakshadweep or Andamans  in India . However the title to the province comes from the biggest of the islands composing the province which is Hainan.

Hainan is situated in the South China Sea. Its capital is Haikou and has a population of 6,150,800 with a density of 181 people per square kilometer according to 1987 figures.

The four  administrative divisions of the province are Hainan, Nansha, Xisha, Zhongsha islands, etc. It also has three municipalities, 16 counties and the agencies of the Xisha, Nansha, Zhongsha islands.

Introduction to the project

Conversion of Hainan into a special economic zone (SEZ) led administration into  many challenges and one such was to uplift the poor and change backward situations into economically active positions. Hainan had many rural areas and due to the setting up of SEZ the rural inhabitants faced a severe crisis of  occupations, employment and overcoming backwardness.  Thus the CPC and the government of Hainan Province carried out a Seven-Year Priority Poverty Reduction Programme which has arrested the sinking of the poor into a poverty trap due to a phenomenal expansion of SEZ. It is reported that by 1997 the basic needs such as  food and  clothing was provided to as many as 17,30,000 rural people.These efforts may lay down many ideas for those administrators working in such areas on how best to deal with uprooted poor rural inhabitants in a fast expanding SEZ. However it was found on an assessment in the post-1997 period that the number of poor was still very large and the economy was growing very slowly hence the local administration and whichever organization had even the least contact with the poor even the local army was collaboratively  made partners in a joint targeted poverty reduction work . This was interestingly described as ‘a poverty reduction program taking assistance with idea, channel, fund and technology’.

                        
Project involved the following stages

1. Assisting the poor to overcome the culture of poverty and do away with ‘waiting, relying and endowing’.

2. Involving local people in the strengthening of infrastructure such as water, roads, electricity, education and health care.

3. An intensive planning process was undertaken to combine talent and technology for the benefit of the poor.

4. Helping farmers to invite investments and look ahead with wider markets.

5. Provincial Organizations Department and State Administration of Taxation emphasized the construction of grassroot organizations to push joint poverty reduction programmes.This led to a creation of village committees which generated financial support for the project.

6. Hainan Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation and Hainan Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision led their female staff to link up with the local officers and masses to educate and also find out the status of drop out children  and in turn inspire them to join back.

7. Many other departments such as Hainan Audit Department, Hainan Surveying and Mapping and Hainan Reform and Development Research Institution of the People’s Republic of China have brought huge sums of money for projects in these regions.

8. An integrated ecological program has also been undertaken to make villages not only green but also valuable and income generating. It is claimed that the famous ‘Baisha Uprising’ was overcome through some very positive and fruitful efforts of local villagers through this project.

Sustainability factor:

The project is sustainable because it has revived and restructured besides adding rigor to administrative agencies.

1. Local poor people have been able to develop a feeling of belongingness to the project as they have participated into it at various stages including fund generation.
2. Administrative agencies even the most remotely ones as the Army and Audit & taxation departments has started realizing how projects could be assigned to these regions.
3. A strengthening of provincial level organs, enterprises and government departments has led to a very targeted approach to poverty reduction.
4. Some of the pillar or small scale industries in the poor areas feel strengthened and committed to play a role and participate in this task as it creates new clientele for them too.

Replication:

The project has already been replicated effectively in a large number of  areas in the province.Haikou City has 71 provincial level organs and enterprises,Haihou City rural areas have replicated animal and orchards projects, Sanya City has shown enormous success in raising farmer’s income in 380 villages by 325 RMB and per capita income of 56,000 people to reach 1,500 RMB.

Other Cities such as  Qionghai, Wenchang and Cengmai have successfully executed many related project depending upon this joint poverty cooperation project of Hainan.

Hainan: Lives of natives being transformed
Source: twcnomad.blogspot.com

Lessons learnt:

No one single project should become an end in itself. Administrative agencies should look for wider cooperation and networking with every other department having the capacity to contribute to the upliftment of the poor.

Some departments need to pay more attention to what is referred to as hardwares such as water, electricity, road, bridges and others called software construction manage ideology, politics, mental spirit and rules & regulations.

There are many preconditions to the success of any project and that is to be assessed according to the local needs and local voice.