War against poverty

When Chinese President Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, he made tuo pin, or poverty eradication, one of his signature policies. This week, China declared victory in its decades-long battle after the last of its impoverished counties were lifted from poverty. While the good news comes just in time for the Communist Party's 100th anniversary next year, some wonder if this success is sustainable against an economic slowdown and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Right: Villagers walking down an alley between rows of new houses built by the Chinese government - as part of its anti-poverty campaign - in Xujiashan village in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture's Ganluo county. Villagers used to live in mud huts.
Villagers walking down an alley between rows of new houses built by the Chinese government - as part of its anti-poverty campaign - in Xujiashan village in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture's Ganluo county. Villagers used to live in mud huts. ST PHOTO: DANSON CHEONG
Right: Villagers walking down an alley between rows of new houses built by the Chinese government - as part of its anti-poverty campaign - in Xujiashan village in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture's Ganluo county. Villagers used to live in mud huts.
Above : Ms Waqi Guogemo, 25, in her apartment - in Chengbei Gan En Community (far right) - which has a big poster of President Xi Jinping. The Chengbei Gan En Community, in Sichuan's mountainous Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, houses 6,600 residents relocated there as part of the Chinese Communist Party's anti-poverty campaign. Given new homes at highly subsidised rates, the residents have access to schools and healthcare, and job training. ST PHOTO: DANSON CHEONG
Above: Slogans urging support for the party are plastered on every block in Chengbei Gan En Community. The set above reads: "For a happy life, thank the Party. Relocation warms the heart."
Above: Slogans urging support for the party are plastered on every block in Chengbei Gan En Community. The set above reads: "For a happy life, thank the Party. Relocation warms the heart." ST PHOTO: DANSON CHEONG
Danson Cheong
China Correspondent
Updated
Nov 28, 2020, 08:53 AM
Published
Nov 28, 2020, 05:00 AM
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Reminders to be thankful can be seen all over the Chengbei Gan En Community, a housing project in Sichuan's mountainous Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.

The residential development is aptly named, for "gan en" means gratitude in English.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 28, 2020, with the headline War against poverty. Subscribe

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