In the Haishu district of Ningbo, Zhejiang province, a two-year program commenced in January, aimed at providing greater support to these families.
A parent, aged 49 or older receives 1,800 yuan a year. Some social groups are paid between 2,000 and 10,000 yuan for their outstanding services. Communities that take care of these elderly people's funerals, receive 10,000 yuan in subsidies.
The policy has benefited 218 people from 139 such families, said Li Yiping, secretary-general of the family planning association in the Haishu district, at a work meeting on Nov 23.
The China Family Planning Association provides funds to 14 provinces to run pilot programs that encourage government purchase of services from social groups.
With 200,000 yuan allocated from the association, Anhui province began working with the Ailin social work organization in Hefei, the provincial capital.
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