County promotes elderly care insurance as alternative to bride prices

In an effort to curb the practice of demanding high bride prices, local officials in Datian county, Fujian province, are promoting elderly care insurance as an alternative.

One bride's mother in the county's Wenjiang town has returned a bride price of 88,000 yuan ($12,000) to the groom's family after her daughter and son-in-law purchased elderly care insurance for her.

The local government in Wenjiang is actively regulating the issue of high-priced bride prices. They promote the use of insurance as an alternative to ensure that the bride's parents have peace of mind.

Residents can enroll in an insurance plan by paying 5,000 yuan per year for 15 years. If the 15-year requirement is not met, they can pay a lump sum. Once they reach the age of 60, they are eligible to receive a monthly pension of over 730 yuan.

The residents of Datian believe that high-priced bride prices are caused by various factors, and ensuring elderly care is an important consideration.

Officials in Datian's social security bureau acknowledge that it is a lot of pressure for young people to pay large sums of money as a bride price at once. By purchasing elderly care insurance every year, young people are relieved of this burden and their parents-in-law receive better security.

The campaign to promote elderly care insurance as an alternative to bride prices is part of a broader effort to curb rural extravagance, including demanding costly bride prices. This year's No 1 central document released by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council has also highlighted the need to discourage expensive funerals, banquets, and ceremonies.