Tibetannet

The Fourth Session of the Tenth Tibetan People’s Congress opened in Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region, on the morning of Jan. 27.

Losang Jamcan, Chairman of Tibet Autonomous Region, made the Report on the Work of the Government at the session.

In 2016, Tibet will further increase financial investment and take ten substantial measures for people’s livelihood by investing 16.7 billion yuan in improving education, social security, employment and health care, etc. 

I. Promoting precision poverty alleviation and shake-off 

Reform and make innovations on poverty alleviation mode and investment mechanism, attach even more importance to this task in financial allocation and provide a total of 7.70979 billion yuan for poverty reduction.     

II. Increasing old-age insurance benefits 

Improve the policy on pension benefits of enterprise retirees and the basic pension benefits of urban and rural residents. The monthly per-capita basic pension of enterprise retirees will be increased by 7 percent from 3,652 yuan to 3,908 yuan.

III. Improving the allowance system for destitute people

The per-capita subsistence allowance for urban residents in Tibet will rise from 590 yuan to 640 yuan monthly; and that for rural residents from 2,350 yuan to 2,550 yuan annually. The living allowance for needy disabled people and the nursing allowance for severely disabled people will be increased by 10 percent.

IV. Improving the welfare for grassroots cadres

Increase the living allowance for rural teachers and medical personnel; continue to provide a monthly per-capita subsidy of 1,500 yuan to the personnel of the management committee of each temple; improve the basic remuneration and performance appraisal awards for secretaries and directors of village Party branches and other village cadres as well as the benefits for village doctors and veterinarians and the living subsidy for old Party members, cadres and model workers. The annual per-capita allowance for rural households enjoying five guarantees (on proper food, clothing, medical care, housing and funeral expenses) will rise from 4,400 yuan to 4,740 yuan.   

V. Continuing to give subsidy to the people living on the frontiers

The annual per-capita subsidy for the people of the first-tier frontier townships is 1,700 yuan; and that for the people of the second-tier frontier townships 1,500 yuan. 

VI. Giving priority to the development of educational cause

From the autumn semester of 2016, the autonomous government will increase the annual subsidy for catering, accommodation and tuition from 3,000 yuan to 3,240 yuan per student. The project of building warm corridor, well, bathhouse and vegetable cellar for each elementary and secondary school located at a high altitude will be continued.

VII. Boosting the development of medical and health services

Increase the annual medical subsidy for people in agricultural and pastoral areas from 420 yuan to 435 yuan per capita, and the annual financial subsidy for basic medical insurance of urban residents from 380 yuan to 420 yuan per capita; give subsidy and awards to pregnant and parturient women for delivery in hospital; and continue to provide health care for women before and during pregnancy besides the free pre-pregnancy physical examination.

VIII. Advancing the cultural undertakings

Carry out transformation on grassroots service units in five years; build pilot Tibetan satellite digital bookstores, popularize such bookstores from 2017 and make them available throughout the region by 2020; and build digital cinemas in all counties at a standard of 1.2 million yuan for each cinema.  

IX. Continuing to implement the system of technological special commissioners for farmers and herders

Continue to pursue the policy of living allowance for technological special commissioners for farmers and herders, and try to make the service available in the whole region.

X. Financial project for the benefit of the people

Promulgate the secured loan discount policy for start-ups and the system of surety insurance for agriculture-related loans to promote entrepreneurship and employment.

Note: 1 US dollar=6.58 yuan