15M Chinese farmers to lose their land (Xinhua) Updated: 2006-07-25 09:28
The Ministry proposed to solve the inevitable disputes caused by land
requisition by offering employment training and social security benefits to
farmers left landless.
It also expected many farmers who lose their land
will be forced to join the growing population of migrant workers trying to earn
a living in the country's cities.
The training will mainly target young
and middle aged farmers and social benefits will be provided to older
generations, who are likely to receive medical care, pension and cash.
The government's land requisition makes it hard for the landless farmers
to survive, so training and social security benefits are very important, the
sources said.
Local governments should ensure funds are used to
implement these measures. No other company or individual should use the money
for any other purpose, the sources continued.
The farmers whose land is
acquired by the government for urban planning can also receive small loans at
preferential interest rates.
In the past, compensation for farmers was
not well managed and was too low, the sources said, adding that if the total
compensation for their land cannot provide the farmers with a standard equal to
their original living conditions, the government should offer more.
Auditor-General of the National Audit Office Li Jinhua offered an
example of bad land deals the case of farmers in Wuhan, capital of central
China's Hubei Province. They received compensation of only 4,800 yuan (600 U.S.
dollars) per mu (0.067 hectares) when they were entitled to receive 189,000 yuan
(23,625 U.S. dollars) per mu.
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