2010-08-28 14:06

Chongqing's roadmap to turn about 10 million rural residents into urban dwellers in 20 years is the first of its kind in the country and of exemplary importance to the reform of the household registration system, or hukou. If successful, it will set a precedent for the rapid urbanization process across the country.

But it was not easy for leaders of this southwestern municipality, directly under the auspices of the central government, to even think of such a bold move, let alone implement it.

It is not hard to go through paperwork in granting urban hukou to rural residents, but it will be inconceivably difficult to make them urban residents in the real sense (meaning providing them with welfare benefits such as healthcare insurance, education and pension).

The municipal government has a detailed plan to implement this roadmap. From 2010 to 2012, 3.8 million first- and second-generation migrant workers will be made residents of the urban districts they work in. This group includes demobilized servicemen and college graduates, who are originally from rural areas.

But the change in hukou will not come without conditions. They have to meet the requirements of working for at least five consecutive years in a city and having paid some tax. The conditions are less demanding for those seeking to become residents of counties in the municipality.

Such requirements are necessary because a city needs residents who can contribute to its development rather than only live on its benefits.

Jobs should not be a problem for the nearly 4 million new urban residents because they have been working in urban areas for years. The real pressure on the job market would come from the 7 million villagers who will become urban residents from 2012 to 2020.

Chongqing's ability to create sufficient jobs for them will decide the success of this unprecedented project.