The province is planning to implement policies to make sure migrants from rural areas have access to the same welfare system as urban residents, in a bid to promote the growth of the urban economy in Hebei.
The Bureau of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Hebei said that if more rural residents decide to move to urban areas, the counties where they are concentrated will find these migrants help the areas achieve their goals of development. In a bid to encourage more rural residents to help with the development of their county, the officials said they will implement policies to help the migrant workers enjoy the same conditions as their urban counterparts, including access to the social security system, subsidized housing projects and - for their children - access to the education system.
The province's top bureau on urban-rural development said some issues hinder the smooth rural-urban migration in Hebei. First, in the 131 counties of the whole province, ten counties have a population below 100,000. The small counties provide only limited opportunities for the villagers, as small factories are scattered – as there are few industrial zones and no major industries lead the economic development.
Second, the restricted access to the financing support is another impediment to its development. About 70 percent of counties have annual revenues lower than 500 million yuan.
The bureau and the provincial government will make more efforts to remove the obstacles. There will be policies to promote start-ups in counties, with a simpler process and easier application procedures for loans. Industries with local advantages will be boosted in counties which have at least one industrial zone.
In addition to the government allocations and financing support for the economy, private individuals are encouraged to take part in the municipal utilities market such as investment in the gas supply, heating and sewerage and garbage disposal.
In order to reach its goals concerning economic development, the authorities will update the administration system in the counties - some counties will become districts of cities, or downtown areas. |
