Stories of China's poverty alleviation among disabled

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China's State Council Information Office on Tuesday invited many of the nation's disabled to share their life stories about how the government-sponsored program helped them out of poverty.

Li Jian became disabled in an accident, and his wife suffered hemiplegia after a cerebral hemorrhage.

"Help from the others can only settle basic livelihood," he said.

He bravely went on to learn planting technology. His endeavors and support from the government for two years led to an annual net income of over 130,000 yuan (18,808 U.S. dollars) in 2016 through growing onions, peanut, and loquat.

Li has been elected as Party secretary in his village and now helps others in the village to increase income.

Li Jian, party secretary of Fulou village speaks at the State Council Information Office, on October 16, 2018, Beijing, China. /Photo via http://www.scio.gov.cn

“In 2016, I earned a net profit of 13 hundred thousand yuan by planting onions and crops and receiving share dividends from a poor households program. Over the last two years, I also learned plantation skills and grasped market information. I am now out poverty for good,” Li said.

Liu Hongxia and her husband, from northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, are both disabled and were once heavily in debt.

Through growing Chinese herbs and raising cattle, their annual income is close to 100,000 yuan now, and their life has become increasingly hopeful.

Xie Lyu, from southwest China's Yunnan Province, lost his sight in a car accident. The 28-year-old did not complain about his fate but instead took a massage training class.

With passionate and professional service, Xie achieved his goal of earning his own living through his massage salon, which is now popular.

Xie Lyu, the owner of a massage salon in Yunnan Province, speaks at China's State Council Information Office, October 16, 2018, Beijing, China. /Photo via http://www.scio.gov.cn

"I am happy now because I have made better changes. In the past, stepping out of my room is even a difficult task for me as I was too shy. My peers could go out and work, but I couldn't do anything even though my looks seem normal. Now, I have regained my confidence. I can use my own hands to make a living," Xie said.

Jia Ru has spent 15 years assisting the disabled in creating better lives for themselves.

This year, she established an innovation park in Xingtang County, northern China's Hebei Province.

"They hope their products can get recognized by the society," said Jia, showing an anti-haze mask produced by the disabled workers there.

"Each stitch of these masks is full of dreams, hope, and love," she said.

(CGTN Zong Jinyi also contributed to the story)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency