Chenzhou Civil Affairs Bureau revealed on September 14 that the city's Civil Affairs Bureau, the Restructuring Office and the Department of Finance had jointly issued a notice to initiate the registration of rural geracomiums, which means the rural geracomiums there will be converted into public welfare institutions.

There are 203 geracomiums in the city's rural areas, supporting over 8,000 aged people who were identified as "Five Guaranteed People". "Five Guarantees" is a system that provides the aged in need with food, clothing, housing, medical assistance and funeral expenses after death.

In the past, these geracomiums lagged behind in service and couldn't fulfill overall functions due to the uncertainty of legal personality, management mechanism, property ownership and financial system.

According to the notice, Chenzhou's rural geracomiums shall be registered as public welfare institutions; their management mechanism and property ownership shall be clarified with independent accounting system to make sure the state funds will be in place and utilized properly. These measures will contribute to improving the overall management level and providing better service to the elder.

Translator: Wang Bilian