China's Family Planning Association has launched a nationwide charity program to care for the ill-fated and needy one-child families.

Jiang Chunyun, chairman of the association, which initiated the program, said some families had paid dearly for carrying out the family planning policy.

Some were left childless after their only children had died in accidents, and the right to subsistence and the well-being of girl babies could not be guaranteed in some regions, Jiang said.

Chinese traditionally believe only a son can carry on the family name.

Millions of Chinese suffered from these problems and others, said Jiang.

Apart from offering financial aid, the program will also encourage soldiers and students and other volunteers to visit childless families and care for them.

The program, which was approved by the government as a measure to improve the implementation of the family planning policy, is encouraging enterprises, non-governmental organizations and individuals to provide financial assistance.

The program saw an initial donation of 13.9 million yuan (US$1.78 million) on Monday, said the Family Planning Association of China.

China's family planning policy, which went into force in 1973, is estimated to have helped reduce the country's population by more than 400 million.

(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2007)