<轉載自2020年11月23日 明報 社評>
內地最後兩個仍然有貧困縣的省份,貴州和甘肅今天將宣布從此脫貧,全國進入小康社會的目標得以實現。中國在短短幾十年把幾億人擺脫貧困,這是人類歷史上前所未有,中國人值得高興,世界也會給予讚揚。中國從此進入一個新時代,即國家主席習近平所說的,人民日益增長的美好生活需要和不平衡不充分發展之間的矛盾的年代。政府在這個新時代,既要避免已經脫貧人民不至於因為不平衡不充分發展而返回貧困,更需要滿足人民對美好生活日益增長的需要。
按照聯合國每天收入1.9美元的標準,10年前仍然有832個貧困縣分佈在22個省份,中央政府用各種手段扶持這些貧困縣,而且在2020年提高貧困線的標準到人均年收入4000元人民幣,相當於每天收入2.2美元,略高於聯合國的標準,到今年5月,仍然有7個省的52個縣處於貧困線以下。這些地方有一個共通之處,地理位置遠離城市、海拔高或者在沙漠邊緣,無論是農耕或者放牧都缺乏自然條件,而且是地廣人稀,貧困戶都散居在不同角落,全部脫貧目標的最後一公里,十分艱難。
然而,中央政府定下死命令,務必要在今年年底前將所有餘下的貧困縣逐一解決,一個不能少,所採取的手段包括,由中央政府出資,在縣城興建房屋,將散居在山上及偏遠地方的居民,全部搬遷到城鎮居住,但這些居民大多心存疑慮,因為一旦離開他們祖輩千百年來賴以為生的土地,他們會變成一無所有。難關在於要令他們遷到城鎮後有充分的就業機會,才能解決他們的後顧之憂。
舉全國之力扶貧達標容易 貧困戶擔心一走了之堪憂
中央政府從富庶省份挑選資源豐富的區縣,以及大型國企,跟52個最難解決的貧困縣分別對接,先調查當地的各種條件,訂定出精準扶貧的方案,或投資建廠提供就業,或協助當地居民掌握農業技術提高產量,或興辦旅遊,讓當地居民經營住宿餐飲,總之務必達到收入在貧困線之上。今年以來,各個省份逐一宣布所有剩下的貧困縣擺脫貧窮,最後的兩個省份,甘肅和貴州,也將在今天舉行記者會發布有關情况。
舉全國之力,將任務分配到特定的單位,內地總能將訂定的目標完成,而這些向世界宣示的成就,是否經得起考驗,也成為國際媒體的討論話題。除了每天收入的金額標準外,還必須保證:搬遷戶的居住面積達到人均25平方米,並且有足夠的醫療設施和生活用水用電供應、適齡學童9年義務教育的學額、最低福利等等的保障。這些都必須經由第三方審核出具證明,並且得到中央政府派員檢查通過,相信這些指標都會受到媒體的監督,並且可以接受國際機構的考察。
然而,很多貧困戶不願意接受國家的扶持,並非他們甘願貧困,而是他們擔心國家的扶貧隊伍在完成任務後「一走了之」,令他們只是在一個新的起點上繼續貧困下去。雖然中央政府一再承諾,今後會不斷監督扶貧措施的延續,但關鍵的問題不在於硬件設施的設置,而在於地區之間發展不平衡的結構性因素,不會令原來的貧困戶重返貧困線以下。
這些原來的貧困縣,地理位置和自然資源條件不會因為國家政策而改變,雖然修建公路令到他們的產品可用更低的成本運到市場,或者是通過發達的通訊科技和平台擴大銷售渠道,可以減輕天然條件負面因素帶來的不公,但更深層次的因素在於這些處於貧困縣的居民,他們最基本的生存條件,跟能夠富起來的國民,處於不同的起跑線上。
位處山區或者偏遠地區的居民,大多是少數民族,或者是多少代的文盲,他們接受教育的機會本來就較差,還要他們在漢族的主流社會上競爭,需要扶持的,就不應該是以提高到超過貧困線標準作為目標,否則,即使保證了9年義務教育,他們也無法走出大山。過去高考制度還有給少數民族加分的政策,近年多個省份宣布將會陸續取消加分制度,好像少數民族在公開考試競爭的條件已經可以跟大城市的漢族孩子「平起平坐」。
授人以漁道理無異議 加大教育投入須落實
中央政府應該投入更大更多的資源,給原來貧困縣的學校增添設備,資助高水平的教師到偏遠地區任教,提供獎學金給成績優異的學生到大城市就讀,讓貧困戶的下一代給自己的家鄉永遠脫貧想辦法,這才是長治久安之計。
授人以魚不如授人以漁這個顯淺的道理,沒有人會不懂,關鍵在於落實,中央政府不可能年年派員去扶貧,倒不如從根本做起。况且,在全國宣布脫貧任務已經完成之後,還要面對人民對美好生活的需求不斷提高,原來的貧困戶也不會滿足於擺脫貧窮,如何解決地區發展不平衡的結構性問題,應該是國家下一個重要的目標。
No more poor counties in
China
By the standards of the
United Nations, which defines poverty as income lower than US$1.9 per day,
there were still 832 poor counties scattered in 22 provinces of China ten years
ago. The central government employed various methods to support these poor
counties. In 2020, China raised its poverty line to an annual income of 4,000
RMB per capita, equivalent to US$2.2 per day, slightly higher than the United
Nations' standard. By May of this year, there were still 52 counties in seven
provinces that were below the poverty line. These places have one thing in
common: they are located away from the city, at high altitudes or on the edge
of the desert, lacking the natural conditions for farming or animals to graze.
They are also sparsely populated, with poor households scattered in different
corners. The last stretch in the race to lift the whole of China out of poverty
remains very difficult.
However, the central
government has given a firm order that by the end of this year, all the
remaining poor counties must be lifted out of poverty one by one, and none of
them must be left behind. This will be accomplished by building houses in
counties with the central government's money. Scattered residents in the hills
or remote areas will be moved into town. However, most of them have misgivings
about leaving the land on which their ancestors have depended for their
livelihood for hundreds of years, worrying that they will be left with nothing.
It is all about ensuring that they have adequate employment opportunities after
they have moved into town, so that their concerns can be addressed.
In these formerly poor
counties, the geographic location and natural resources do not change as a
result of government policy. True, the construction of highways enables their
products to be brought to the market at lower costs, and the expansion of sales
channels through advanced communication technologies and platforms can
alleviate the inequities brought about by adverse natural conditions. However,
in terms of basic living conditions. the deeper factor is that the residents of
these poor counties are at a different starting point compared with citizens
who are able to become wealthy.
The central government
should invest more and more resources for schools in these poor counties to add
equipment. It should subsidise high-level teachers so that they are willing to
teach in remote areas and provide scholarships for students with excellent
results to study in big cities. The long-term solution is to make the children
from poor households keep thinking of ways to lift their villages out of
poverty.
Everyone knows the
simple truth that it is better to teach a man how to fish rather than give him
a fish. The key is how to implement it. It is impossible for the central
government to send staff to help the poor every year, so it is better to start
from the roots. In addition, after the announcement of the completion of the national
mission to alleviate poverty, the central government is also faced with the
rising demand for better quality of life. The originally poor households will
not be satisfied with being out of poverty. How to solve the structural problem
of unbalanced regional development should be the next important goal for the
country.
中國從此沒有貧困縣 今後富強目標更艱難
按照聯合國每天收入1.9美元的標準,10年前仍然有832個貧困縣分佈在22個省份,中央政府用各種手段扶持這些貧困縣,而且在2020年提高貧困線的標準到人均年收入4000元人民幣,相當於每天收入2.2美元,略高於聯合國的標準,到今年5月,仍然有7個省的52個縣處於貧困線以下。這些地方有一個共通之處,地理位置遠離城市、海拔高或者在沙漠邊緣,無論是農耕或者放牧都缺乏自然條件,而且是地廣人稀,貧困戶都散居在不同角落,全部脫貧目標的最後一公里,十分艱難。
然而,中央政府定下死命令,務必要在今年年底前將所有餘下的貧困縣逐一解決,一個不能少,所採取的手段包括,由中央政府出資,在縣城興建房屋,將散居在山上及偏遠地方的居民,全部搬遷到城鎮居住,但這些居民大多心存疑慮,因為一旦離開他們祖輩千百年來賴以為生的土地,他們會變成一無所有。難關在於要令他們遷到城鎮後有充分的就業機會,才能解他們後顧之憂。
這些原來的貧困縣,地理位置和自然資源條件不會因為國家政策而改變,雖然修建公路令到他們的產品可用更低的成本運到市場,或者是通過發達的通訊科技和平台擴大銷售渠道,可以減輕天然條件負面因素帶來的不公,但更深層次的因素在於這些處於貧困縣的居民,他們最基本的生存條件,跟能夠富起來的國民,處於不同的起跑線上。
中央政府應該投入更大更多的資源,給原來貧困縣的學校增添設備,資助高水平的教師到偏遠地區任教,提供獎學金給成績優異的學生到大城市就讀,讓貧困戶的下一代給自己的家鄉永遠脫貧想辦法,這才是長治久安之計。
授人以魚不如授人以漁這個顯淺的道理,沒有人會不懂,關鍵在於落實,中央政府不可能年年派員去扶貧,倒不如從根本做起。况且,在全國宣布脫貧任務已經完成之後,還要面對人民對美好生活的需求不斷提高,原來的貧困戶也不會滿足於擺脫貧窮,如何解決地區發展不平衡的結構性問題,應該是國家下一個重要的目標。