For orange growers, villagers, digitalization pays dividends

Scoring system

To advance governance in rural areas, Huichang has built a scoring system for its residents based on its digital rural platform to ensure villagers are law-abiding and socially and environmentally conscious. The authorities and the village committees evaluate and score the residents based on their deeds and activities.

For instance, participating in volunteer services and helping seniors or children earns the family credits, but if a person harmed the environment or participated in illegal activity, points will be deducted.

Each family has a code through which members can check the credits they have earned or lost. The residents can use the credits to buy daily necessities such as food and toiletries in designated stores that are subsidized by the local government.

"The evaluations are mainly done online, and staff members from government departments or village committees will give marks according to people's situations," said Lai Yuanping, an official in Huichang's Zikeng village. "Meanwhile, the employees are also supervised and graded by the masses. This digital system has benefited rural governance in many ways."

Lai said that many villagers, even some who are unemployed, are now actively participating in public welfare activities.

Once a month, the village committee invites people age 70 or older to gather at a local ancestral hall to chat and enjoy free food. Many villagers help with cooking and cleaning up after the event.

"Goods bought with credits are not worth a lot of money, but mainly serve as an incentive and guide," Lai said. "What matters is that residents being rewarded for the positive things they do gives them a sense of achievement. Participation and respect is important, and some people have changed their attitudes toward life through such works."