Grassroots governance fosters greater community engagement

For Pei Fengmei, 64, a retired prospector in Northeast China, her new "job" as a community volunteer in Xianlin subdistrict of Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, is just as fulfilling as her former one.

Pei moved into the subdistrict in 2013 after her son and daughter-in-law settled there, and joined the local volunteer team one year later. Now her daily work is to help neighbors solve whatever problems they may have in their daily lives, such as finding lost children, fixing doors and recovering mobile phones.

"Whenever there is a need, we are informed in our WeChat group. It's no exaggeration to say we are on call 24 hours a day," she said, adding that the work often involves cooperation and negotiation with local partners such as property management companies.

"I'm happy to do this job, it makes my life meaningful," she added.

Pei is one of the more than 8,000 volunteers in Xianlin subdistrict serving 230,000 people across 35 communities and 12 colleges, according to Xu Jun, director of the working committee of the political advisory body of the subdistrict.

The volunteers, which include local residents, officials and college students, are encouraged to help the elderly, children and the disabled, in aspects such as homework, odd jobs and therapeutic massage.

They use an app on which residents can post their needs, complaints and problems, so that volunteers can monitor real-time information and provide solutions. Xu said Communist Party of China members should actively participate on the app.

During the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee in October, the central government put forward the idea to perfect the social governance system with Party committee leadership, government responsibility, democratic consultation, social coordination, public participation, rule of law, and scientific and technological support.

Jiangsu province as a whole is trying to create an innovative and modernized grassroots social governance system that better serves the people. It's one of the first times in China that a grid administration system has been applied across a whole province. The system can better serve the demands of residents and provide targeted services via the internet and cross-departmental cooperation.

The goal is to build a harmonious society and enhance people's sense of satisfaction and achievement, according to the government.

In Hongqiao subdistrict of Nantong, there is a management team for every 2,000 people, with 57 teams in total. This has enabled Hongqiao to effectively streamline its urban management services.

More than 2,000 volunteers report problems in the subdistrict to local partners, who upload the information onto the online system, so that different government departments, such as the public security and urban management departments, are informed and can take action, local staff member said.

The local government also cooperates with a private company to provide services for the elderly, which include bringing meals to their homes, cleaning, accompanying them on walks, medical care and counseling services, with some charges, according to Gu Tongtong, who works for the community.

Public-private-partnerships for elderly care is also the focus of Yizheng Jiangyang Tianle Lake Healthcare Center in Yangzhou city of Jiangsu, which is located by Tianle Lake, a national tourist attraction.

Chen Yu'e, 88, lives in a room at the center, equipped with a kitchen, toilet, balcony, washing machine and other home appliances. There is a bell at her bedside to call a nurse if needed.

The monthly cost of the room is 3,000 yuan ($428). The center has a canteen, and the entertainment services, such as dancing, movies and karaoke, are free. Chen said she has made friends with many people in the center.

According to Zhang Fuhai, general manager of the center, 250 beds are available for the elderly, and residents are served by doctors from Subei People's Hospital of Jiangsu province.

During a visit to the center, Kunal Dutt, a reporter from the Press Trust of India, said, "The room looks nice and the old lady seems satisfied with her life."

Jakhongir Azimov, a reporter from Dunyo Information Agency from Uzbekistan, who also visited the center and the subdistricts, said it's good to know that the local government is using information technology to receive feedback from the public and improve social welfare.

"We learned a lot about its efforts to take care of the elderly, which is a long-term project."

Elderly people learn flower arrangement at the Yizheng Jiangyang Tianle Lake Healthcare Center in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province. CHINA DAILY