The Ministry of Civil Affairs announced yesterday that more state welfare institutions for orphans will be built in the next five years.

Dou Yupei, Vice Minister of Civil Affairs, said the ministry would allocate 200 million yuan (US$25 million) annually between now and 2010 to create state welfare institutions in each prefecture-level city across the country.

The institutions will cover multiple functions, such as better care, education and rehabilitation, Dou said at a donation ceremony yesterday.

The plan, called the "Blue Sky Plan," mirrors the image that orphans will live under the same blue sky as other children, although this poetic metaphor may be weakened for orphanages lying under the grey-clouded skies of major Chinese cities. This was advocated by President Hu Jintao during a visit to a children's welfare institution on June 1.

China now has 66,000 orphans living in public welfare institutions and over 570,000 living with families, according to the ministry.

Half the orphans living in welfare institutions suffer from physical disabilities or congenital diseases.

Dou said another children's welfare plan, the "Tomorrow Plan," has achieved fruitful results since its launch in May 2004.

The Tomorrow Plan, providing rehabilitation to all handicapped orphans, has brought new life to more than 25,000 children, 10 percent of whom have now been adopted by families.

Orphans suffering from congenital diseases or physical disabilities receive free treatment or operations.

Dou said the new plan, implemented by the China Center of Adoption Affairs, is expected to be completed by May next year and would eventually be extended to children of poor families.

"China is still a developing country with limited government funding for welfare," Dou said. "We are very grateful for the donations and support from home and other countries and hope more warm-hearted organizations and individuals will join our cause in the welfare of children."

(China Daily December 29, 2006)