Girl's heart-wrenching story spurs action

The plight of a 12-year-old girl whose homework essay about her mother's death grabbed national attention is being looked into by officials in Sichuan province.

The 300-word essay by Muku Yiwumu, of the Yi ethnic minority in Liangshan, unleashed an outpouring of compassion, prompting reflection on China's fight against poverty.

"My father died four years ago," was the first sentence of the essay that went on to say there was no money available to treat her mother after the mother suddenly fell ill.