Chinese Family Planning Officials Compensate Parents Whose Only Child Was Killed During Earthquake

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Aid / Disasters
Article Date: 05 Jun 2008 - 8:00 PDT

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Family planning authorities in China's Sichuan province have begun distributing payments of 1,000 yuan, or about $144, annually to parents whose only child was killed during an earthquake on May 12, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Before the quake, under China's one-child policy, Sichuan officials gave rural couples with only one child 60 yuan to 120 yuan, or about $8 to $17, annually and 1,000 yuan annually to parents/couples over age 60. The age requirement for the 1,000 yuan payment was waived for parents whose only child was killed. According to the Journal, the payments are intended to recognize that families will have less financial support during retirement if they had one child rather than multiple children.

The government also plans to compensate families whose only child was injured during the quake, the Journal reports. National government officials also are considering extending the compensation policy nationwide to parents whose only child has died of other causes not related to the quake. In addition, parents whose only child died during the quake will be given priority to adopt another child.

Government officials also have said that the parents likely will receive additional compensation after the conclusion of an investigation to determine the extent of human negligence regarding schools that collapsed after the quake. According to the Journal, many children died when nearly 7,000 schoolrooms and dormitory rooms were destroyed following the quake (Mei, Wall Street Journal, 6/3).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

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