Introduction
China has made significant strides in eradicating absolute poverty, but the country still faces challenges in addressing relative poverty, especially in rural areas such as Gansu. Gansu has been one of the most poverty-ridden provinces in China since the early 1900s. The dynamics of poverty in Gansu are influenced by factors such as limited industrialization, lack of infrastructure, and lower levels of education and skills among the population. The disparity between the industrialized, digitized parts of China, such as Beijing and Shanghai, and the underdeveloped rural areas of Gansu exacerbates poverty in Gansu. This essay will focus on a family living in Gansu and their experiences with poverty, as well as their perspectives on improving their quality of life.
Introduction of Family
The Zhang family lives in a tiny adobe dwelling in a remote part of Gansu, where Mr. Zhang works in the coal and mineral mines, and Mrs. Zhang works in the fields. They live with their two kids, a boy and a girl, both enrolled in elementary school. The family’s schooling is limited, as Mr. and Mrs. Zhang have only completed primary education, and their expertise is mainly in farming and physical labor. Financially, the family’s income from mining and farming barely covers their basic needs, representing the typical rural household in Gansu, where limited education, skills, and financial resources contribute to the cycle of poverty.
Additionally, the Li family’s situation aligns with Gustafsson and Sai’s (2020) argument for applying a relative poverty line to urban China, as income growth in urban China was found to be more rapid in the middle segments of the income distribution, leading to a higher proportion falling below the relative poverty line. This aligns with the Li family’s struggle to afford school fees and access healthcare, reflecting the changing assessment of the minimum income required among urban residents in China.
Family Meeting
The Li family sees itself as poor because it has little money and tough living conditions. Jiang says there are few jobs in their isolated village, and his work in the mines is dangerous and pays little. Mei explains that their harvests suffer because they cannot purchase fertilizer or water. This makes it difficult to provide education for their daughters, hindering their prospects for a brighter future.
Additionally, the absence of electricity and reliable transportation to markets poses challenges. As a result, the family is striving to accumulate funds to relocate to a city with better job opportunities. A study by Garriga et al. (2023) found that moving from rural to urban areas in China can significantly improve rural households’ incomes and living conditions.
Out of Poverty Plans
Six-Month Plan and Outcomes
Over the next six months, Mr. Zhang plans to enroll in government-sponsored vocational training programs to expand his job options beyond mining. Meanwhile, Mrs. Zhang will participate in a joint farming project to learn modern methods and acquire better equipment to boost crop production and income. Their children will receive extra after-school lessons and have access to educational technology to enhance their school performance and digital skills (Niu & Xu, 2023).
In addition, the family will work with local healthcare providers to secure affordable medical care and obtain valuable health education. Ultimately, the Zhang family aims to increase their income through diverse job opportunities for Mr. Zhang, improve crop production and income for Mrs. Zhang, enhance academic performance and digital skills for the children, and gain better access to healthcare services and improved health outcomes for the whole family.
Twelve-Month Plan and Outcomes
The Zhang family is embarking on a comprehensive journey towards personal and collective growth. Mr. Zhang will pursue entrepreneurial opportunities, while Mrs. Zhang will focus on women’s empowerment and leadership development. The children will engage in extracurricular activities and academic pursuits. In tandem, the family will collaborate with local authorities to champion for enhanced infrastructure, encompassing improved roadways and access to clean water and electricity.
The envisioned outcomes encompass elevated income and economic self-sufficiency for Mr. Zhang, enhanced leadership and income-generating skills for Mrs. Zhang, holistic growth and expanded opportunities for the children, and an improved living environment and infrastructure for the entire family. The family’s aspirations to improve their living conditions and escape poverty align with the strategies outlined in Understanding Global Poverty by Cosgrove and Curtis (2022), which emphasizes the importance of human development and capabilities in poverty reduction. The book highlights the significance of empowering individuals and communities through education, vocational training, and entrepreneurship, which are central components of the Li family’s six-month and twelve-month plans.
Conclusion
The Zhang family’s experiences in rural Gansu reflect the challenges faced by many households in poverty-ridden areas of China. By addressing the family’s education, skills, and financial means, the proposed plans aim to improve their quality of life and break the cycle of poverty. It is essential to recognize that poverty is multifaceted and requires holistic interventions that address the diverse needs of individuals and families.
By implementing realistic, sustainable plans that meet families where they are, it is possible to make meaningful strides toward reducing poverty and improving community well-being in China. The government, local authorities, and civil society organizations can play pivotal roles in supporting such initiatives and creating an enabling environment for poverty reduction and sustainable development in rural areas.
References
Cosgrove, S., & Curtis, B. (2022). Understanding global poverty: Causes, solutions, and capabilities (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Garriga, C., Hedlund, A., Tang, Y., & Wang, P. (2023). Rural-urban migration, structural transformation, and housing markets in China. American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, 15(2), 413-440.
Gustafsson, B., & Ding, S. (2020). Growing into relative income poverty: Urban China, 1988–2013. Social Indicators Research, 147(1), 73-94.
Niu, K., & Xu, H. (2023). Urban–rural integration and poverty: Different roles of urban–rural integration in reducing rural and urban poverty in China. Social Indicators Research, 165(3), 737-757.
Yang, J., & Mukhopadhaya, P. (2017). Disparities in the level of poverty in China: Evidence from China family panel studies 2010. Social Indicators Research, 132(1), 411-450.