Battle against poverty

Raising the poverty line always puts a larger number of people below it. But it is absolutely right that China's poverty-alleviation program should cover a larger number of low-income villagers.

The policy adjustment announced at the weekend has done precisely that. It cancels the standard of 786 yuan ($115) per annum for destitute villagers and adopts that of 1,067 yuan ($156) for low-income rural residents as the unified poverty line. That means the number of people involved in the battle against poverty will increase from the current 14.79 million to 43.20 million.

Still lower than the World Bank's poverty line of $1.25 a day, the adjustment will certainly benefit both groups.