From Chinese Press

Duty to help the poor

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-03-03 07:44

The story of a 4-year-old child in Yilong county, Sichuan province, sweeping roads with his cleaner mother and teenage brother is all over the Internet. It's true that children of poor families start working at an early age, but it's a shame that even a 4-year-old child has to work to help his mother and support his family. People should not be mute witnesses to kids burdened beyond their age. Instead, they should extend them a helping hand, says an article in China Youth Daily. Excerpts:

The pitiable life of the two fatherless boys, especially the 4-year-old, in Yilong should not be seen as an isolated case. The paltry income of their mother is not an isolated case, either.

It's true that the local township government has provided aid to the poor family, but more needs to be done.

Governments at all levels and citizens across the country should come to the help of not only the two boys and their mother, but also other children who are forced to work and lend their families a helping hand when they should be in school.

The government and people have the obligation to ensure that children of the disadvantaged group don't become victims of despair. This can be done only by extending help to poor families throughout the country.

The government has to provide help to the poor families, if for nothing else then to maintain social harmony and make distribution of national wealth fairer.

Moreover, it is the bounden duty of every citizen to help the poor, because only mutual support among the people can ensure the development of society.

The opinions expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

(China Daily 03/03/2011 page9)