The Shanxi Department of Civil Affairs in North China's Shanxi province held a work meeting on Feb 11 to clarify plans to improve the standard of living of its population during the current year.

Plans are for the civil affairs departments at the town, county, city and provincial levels to establish a comprehensive social assistance system. They will continue to consolidate and expand achievements made in poverty alleviation, implement a dynamic adjustment mechanism for urban and rural subsistence allowances, and improve the level of social assistance for special groups of people who are experiencing difficulties.

Moreover, the departments will complete an urban senior care happiness project, continue to care for and serve rural left-behind senior citizens, and support the development of service organizations with nursing functions. In addition, the introduction of 5G-based intelligent eldercare services will be advanced. 

The departments will accelerate the rolling out of the 5G-based intelligent communities – developing and selecting 20 demonstration models for township and town government services to promote the intelligent development of grassroots governance.

The development of nursing, medical care, rehabilitation, education and social work at municipal-level child welfare institutions will be integrated. By the end of 2022, Shanxi plans to build 150 township, town and sub-district-level protection workstations for minors. 

In addition, the province will strengthen its social work and voluntary services, in order to realize full coverage of social workstations in at least 40 percent of its counties, towns and townships in the current year.