Crossing the great divide
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As the two sessions approach, the People's Daily website is undertaking a survey to find out what topics ordinary people think our legislators and political advisers should prioritize in the discussions. Among the topics proposed is reform of the household registration system and elimination of the artificial distinction between urban and rural residents.
In 1958, a household registration system was introduced in order to control the movement of people between rural and urban areas. At that time, China was developing its heavy industries in a bid to increase its national strength. Since nearly all the industries were located in cities, it was natural to concentrate national resources on urban areas for industrial growth. The rural areas thus became a raw material production base for the cities and the movement of rural residents to cities was strictly controlled so as not to disrupt the urban industrial labor market. Hence the distinction between the agricultural (rural) and non-agricultural (urban) household registrations.
While it's true that the household registration system was effective in accumulating social wealth for industrial development, it also contributed to the creation of a divide between urban and rural areas.
As time went by, holders of the agricultural household registration not only had to endure restrictions on their movement, they were also greatly disadvantaged when it came to healthcare, education, employment and marriage, etc.
Thanks to this system, farmers are less privileged than their urban peers. Even today, some people still assume that cities do not belong to farmers and that it's natural for rural migrant workers to live in shantytowns without any social welfare.
However, such a divide is unfair and unethical. Each and every one of us should have the same freedom of movement and enjoy the same benefits, regardless of who we are. The Chinese Constitution stipulates that everyone is equal before the law and the United Nations' International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families goes a step further and proposes transnational freedom of movement for migrant workers and members of their families.
There is abundant evidence pointing to the unfairness that exists between agricultural and non-agricultural household registrations, yet looking back at China's modern history, one cannot but be overwhelmed by the enormous contribution farmers have made to the country.
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