Nearly 110,000 farmers who lost land to urbanization projects in the suburb of east China's Shanghai Municipality are receiving monthly-paid pension, said the municipal labor and social security authorities on Wednesday.

The municipal government offered social security services for 1.1 million suburban residents in 2005, among whom 792,000 were farmers who lost their land to urban construction programs.

"Now I can get a pension of 370 yuan (about US$45.7) every month, just like people in the cities." said 55-year-old GaoXuejuan who used to receive merely 75 yuan (some US$9.3)per month according to the standard of pension in rural areas.

In an effort to protect the rights of these farmers, the municipal government established a township social insurance system in October 2003, which offered a package of social welfare services including endowment insurance, unemployment insurance, medical insurance and exemption from individual tax.

"I don't have to worry about the medical expenditures any more because I can get back 80 percent of that from the insurance company." said an elder farmer who lives in Nanhui County of Shanghai.

(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2006)