Poverty Alleviation and Development in Inner Mongolia

　　【Overview】 In 2010, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (hereinafter referred to as autonomous region) had 31 key counties for national poverty alleviation and development, 29 key counties of Inner Mongolia, a poor population of 614,000, accounting for 5.4% of the population of rural pasturing area, mainly scattered in sand hill areas in the east of Inner Mongolia, along the border, in Yinshan wind erosion and desertification area, Loess Plateau areas, etc.

　　Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development was formerly called Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development. It became an independent departmental level unit in 1996 as the deliberation and coordination institution for Inner Mongolia Party Committee and Government. In the government institution reform in 2009, Inner Mongolia Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development was renamed as Inner Mongolia Poverty Alleviation and Development Office, and was also called “Inner Mongolia Old Revolutionary Base Construction Office”, listed among the organs and government departments directly under the administration of Inner Mongolia government. Except Wuhai City, in the reform of poverty alleviation agencies below provincial level, all other 11 city-level poverty alleviation offices and two independent cities were listed among the agencies directly under the leadership of local government. The poverty alleviation institutions of 60 key counties (cities, districts) for national and local poverty alleviation and development and minority areas have been basically retained and were listed among the agencies directly under government. Five agencies were set up in local institutions, namely General Office, Department of Planning and Finance and Social Poverty Alleviation, Department of Project Management, Department of Relocation-based Poverty Alleviation and Development and Department of Construction of Old Revolutionary Base Areas. The party committees of institutions are responsible for party and mass work. In 2005, the accredited organization of supervision office for discipline inspection Group was set up. The four institutions include service center of organ affairs, development center of old revolutionary base areas, training center for poverty alleviation and poverty alleviation foundation. The office address is No. 82 Wulanchabu East Street, Hohhot City.

　　【Poverty reduction program】 After seriously summarizing the successful experience and effective practices of the poverty alleviation and development in the “11th Five-Year Plan” period, Inner Mongolia arranged special funds and special personnel to develop the “Outline for Poverty Alleviation and Development in Inner Mongolia (2011-2020)”, the “Planning for Poverty Alleviation and Development in Inner Mongolia in the ‘12th Five-Year Plan’ Period” and other related special programs. The poverty alleviation and development programs of Inner Mongolia attach importance to the directional, strategic, macroscopical and policy effects of poverty alleviation and development, and are mainly developed for the poor areas with special difficulties such as minority regions, old revolutionary base areas and pasturing areas, stressing the particularity of poverty alleviation and development. The cities and counties successively founded relevant agencies to develop planning for poverty alleviation and development as well.

　　【Declaration of contiguous poor areas with special difficulties】As the state will continue to identify key counties for poverty alleviation and development in the central and western regions in the next decade and will provide strong support for a batch of key national contiguous poor areas with special difficulties, Inner Mongolia party committee and government as well as relevant departments did a lot of coordination work. A number of sectors expressed understanding and recognition of its opinions and suggestions and stated that Inner Mongolia, as a minority area in the northern border area, should be given different treatment for the special significance of local poverty alleviation and development.

　　【Social poverty alleviation】 Local governments continue to organize and mobilize party and government agencies, military units, enterprises and institutions to carry out in-depth social poverty alleviation activities featured “village poverty reduction by units and household poverty relief by cadres”. 22 state organs were designated to support the 26 key counties. They invested anti-poverty funds of 31.7 million Yuan in kind and cash and implemented 32 anti-poverty projects in 2010. The province actively carried out poverty relief donation activities, covering health care, etc, and coordinated China Charity Federation to donate medical equipment worth 30 million Yuan to 100 township hospitals in Inner Mongolia. Meanwhile, it strengthened support for Xing’an League, extended the period of fixed-point poverty alleviation of the organs directly under Inner Mongolia Government for Xing’an League to 2015 and designated Ordos City to provide counterpart support for Xing’an League.

　　【Beijing-Inner Mongolia cooperation in poverty alleviation】 It has strengthened Beijing-Inner Mongolia counterpart support and cooperation in poverty alleviation. Party committee and government leaders of the two regions paid many exchanged visits and came to agreement on supporting 16 counties (cities, districts) in Chifeng and Wulanchabu.

　　【Convergence of two systems】 In 2010, pilot projects for convergence of two systems were launched in three key counties, namely Qingshuihe County of Hohhot, Balinyou Qi of Chifeng City and Taipusi Qi in Guole League of Xilin. The government developed the “Implementation Program for Pilot Projects of Effective Convergence of the Rural Minimum Living Security System and Pro-poor Policies in Pasturing Areas of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regions” and sent cadres to give instructions. In the pilot counties, a total of 26,280 poor households and 52,881 poor people were identified, accounting for 16.4% of the total rural population, laying a foundation for Inner Mongolia and key counties to carry out effective convergence of two systems and establish a sound mechanism to identify the poor in the future.

　　【Entire village advancement】 A total of 245 million Yuan of financial anti-poverty funds were issued for the consolidation of entire village advancement of 350 key poor Gacha villages, 1 million Yuan for each Gacha village, mainly to improve the basic production and living conditions of farmers and herdsmen as well as the infrastructure such as farmland and pasturing areas. In the poor Gacha villages involved in entire village advancement, the development conditions, self-development capacity and village appearance have all been significantly improved.

　　【Poverty alleviation by industrialization】 150.97 million Yuan of anti-poverty funds were issued for the poverty reduction by industrialization in key counties, minority regions, border pasturing areas and old revolutionary base areas to support base construction of industrial poverty alleviation projects such as farming, vegetable and potato planting and featured planting. All the projects were implemented in poor Gacha villages, which promoted local industrial development and significantly increased the income of farmers and herdsmen.

　　【Contiguous development】 In 2010, it invested 75 million Yuan of financial anti-poverty funds to implement pilot projects of contiguous development in 15 key counties, covering 15 key counties in 11 Leagues and cities, which supported the development of featured industries in poverty-stricken areas such as featured farming, facility agriculture and ecological environment construction.

　　【Fixed-point poverty alleviation by central state organs】 22 central state organs were designated to support 26 key counties, invested anti-poverty funds of 31.7 million Yuan in kind and cash and implemented 32 anti-poverty projects in 2010. They built 17 schools, subsidized 7454 students, held 15 trainings for 3503 person-times and organized labor export for 601 person-times as well.

　　【Investment of anti-poverty funds】 In 2010, the financial anti-poverty funds from the central government reached 895 million Yuan, 34.595 million Yuan more than that in 2009; And Inner Mongolia government issued matching funds of 120 million Yuan, 12 million Yuan more than that of the previous year.

　　【Poverty alleviation training】 The government issued 36 million Yuan of financial anti-poverty funds to organize practical agricultural technical and professional skills trainings for 30,000 junior and high middle schools students who were not admitted to colleges, demobilized soldiers, poor households involved in family planning and the households without livestock, aiming to transfer employments and support entrepreneurship. According to the cadre training program for poverty-stricken areas, it completed the task of 14 trainings for 2738 person-times together with the organization department of the party committee and the department of finance.

　　【Relocation-based poverty alleviation】 51.3 million Yuan of financial anti-poverty funds were arranged to develop production, increase income, improve ecological environment and promote urbanization. The relocation task of the sixth batch of people, covering 40 areas and 16,000 people was successfully completed.

　　【Poverty alleviation and development in old revolutionary base areas】 30 million Yuan of financial anti-poverty funds were issued to support the poverty alleviation in 33 old revolutionary base areas.

　　【Supervision of poverty alleviation project funds】 The government organized the performance evaluation of financial anti-poverty funds and multiple factor assessment of poverty alleviation and development work. Based on self-examinations of Leagues, cities and counties, it made a sample check on the poverty alleviation and development work of 12 cities, Manzhouli City, Erlianhaote City and the affiliated 37 counties (cities, districts) done in 2009, and conducted comprehensive assessment of the work done by city poverty alleviation offices and 37 inspected counties’ poverty alleviation offices. Four cities and 25 counties (cities, districts) were titled as Outstanding Units and ten cities and 12 counties were titled as Relatively Outstanding Units.

　　【Pilot projects of mutual funds in poor villages】7.5 million Yuan was issued for the pilot mutual funds in six counties. As of the end of 2010, Inner Mongolia had invested 20.25 million Yuan of financial anti-poverty funds and developed 19 counties (including 17 national pilot counties and 2 local pilot counties) and 155 poor Gacha villages for the pilot projects of village-level mutual funds in poor villages.

　　【Poverty alleviation loan discount】 The third batch of poverty alleviation leading enterprises, 65 in total, were identified. Therefore, the total number of national and local poverty alleviation leading enterprises reached 159. The government gave full play to the role of leading enterprises in promoting the economic structure adjustment in poor areas and income growth of poor farmers and herdsmen. In 2010, the central government issued 19.9 million Yuan of poverty alleviation loan interest discount subsidy, and Inner Mongolia issued 10 million Yuan of interest discount subsidy for poverty alleviation leading enterprises’ loans and 9.9 million Yuan of interest discount subsidy for household loans. All the funds were issued to the cities and local government will report to Inner Mongolia government for records after they determine project counties and the enterprises enjoying interest discount.

　　【Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Foundation for Poverty Alleviation】 On October 26, the founding and first session of the first party committee of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Foundation for Poverty Alleviation was held in Hohhot. Ren Yaping, Vice Secretary of the Party Committee and Deputy Chairman of Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Bao Junchen, Member of the Standing Committee and former Vice Chairman of the CPPCC Inner Mongolia Regional Committee addressed the meeting. Vice Director of the Standing Committee of the CNC of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Liu Xiu and Vice Chairman of the CPPCC Inner Mongolia Regional Committee Han Zhenxiang attended the event. The meeting proposed to appoint Song Zhimin and Zhang Hesong as the Honorary Chairmen, Bao Junchen as the Chairman, Cui Guozhu as Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee, Feng You’en, Yun Zongyuan and Zhang Shuangwang as Vice Chairman, Xu Jianxin as the General Secretary and Wang Pinggang as Vice General Secretary. It set up General Office, Project Department and Financial Department. The preparation of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Foundation for Poverty Alleviation started in 1997. Up to now, the mechanism and systems of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Foundation for Poverty Alleviation have been further improved.

　　【Li Ka-shing’s medical poverty alleviation project in Inner Mongolia】 On August 26, Li Ka-shing’s medical poverty alleviation project in Inner Mongolia was launched in Hexigten of Chifeng City. The medical workers made definite diagnosis of 58 cerebral palsy patients, 7 Patients with cleft lip and cleft palate and 4 paraplegic patients, and sent the patients in batches to Rehabilitation Hospital of Chifeng City for free surgery. The medical poverty alleviation projects in Inner Mongolia this time was funded by the Li Ka Shing Foundation and it is the first charity medical poverty reduction project of Li Ka Shing Foundation launched in Inner Mongolia. The activity was under the leadership of Professor Sun Delin and Xu Longshui from the Rehabilitation Center of Li Ka Shing Foundation. Professor Zhou Tianjian and Tian Xinming of Beijing Charity Hospital were invited to make screening diagnosis for patients.

　　【Poverty alleviation by science and technology】It issued the “Notice on Project Selection for Poverty Alleviation by Science and Technology in 2010” (Nei Cai Nong [2010] No. 222) together with Inner Mongolia Department of Finance and put forward specific requirements for the declaration of poverty alleviation projects by using technology. Later, experts were invited to conduct strict assessment and 39 projects were determined. 20 million Yuan was issued for the projects, which were scattered in 35 counties (cities, districts) of 13 union cities.

　　【Activities of Excelling in Performance】 On May 31, the Poverty Alleviation Office held the mobilization meeting and made deployments for the Activities of Excelling in Performance. The activities were carried out according to the arrangements. Commitments were first made and then practiced. Finally relevant leaders made comments. Propaganda column was provided to announce the guiding line of the Activities of Excelling in Performance and the basic requirements for advanced grassroots party organizations and excellent CPC members. The “Textbook for Party Cadres Involved in the Activities of Excelling in Performance” and the “Manual for Promoting the Activities of Excelling in Performance” were purchased for all party members, leaders and party committees to study. The theme of the Activities of Excelling in Performance is “conducting poverty alleviation to benefit the masses”. The old revolutionary base area Liangcheng County, national poverty-stricken county Qingshuihe, Huanhe Sub-district Office of Hui Nationality and Ajilaqin Community were selected as the points of contact of the activity. Relevant departments conscientiously performed their duties, successful completed the tasks of poverty alleviation and development and had a stronger sense of internal harmony and serving the people. The activities gave full play to the role of party organizations as fighting forces and the vanguard and exemplary role of CPC members as well.

　　【Director-General Fan Xiaojian visited Inner Mongolia for survey on anti-poverty work】From June 5 to 6, Fan Xiaojian, the Deputy Head of the State Council Leading Group for Poverty Alleviation and Development and the Party Committee Secretary and Director of the Poverty Alleviation Office visited Xing’an League of Inner Mongolia for survey on anti-poverty work, accompanied by Assistant to Chairman of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Huang Alateng Bielige, Vice Secretary-General of Inner Mongolia Government Yu Qingli, Deputy Director-General of Inner Mongolia Poverty Alleviation Office Feng You’en and relevant county leaders of Xing’an League. The delegation successively visited Zhalaite Qi, Keyouqian Qi, Tuquan County and Keyouzhong Qi, five towns including Sumu, one leading enterprise and five Gacha villages for survey on entire village advancement, relocation for poverty reduction, production and processing of farm produce, counterpart poverty alleviation and the poverty status, etc. During the visit, Director-General Fan Xiaojian held talks with the town and village cadres and masses many times and extended his regards to poor households. At the end of the survey, he exchanged views with the Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the Party Committee and Administrative Office of Xing’an League.