Pursuing prosperity: a mountainous county’s efforts against poverty
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Since June 2019, multiple steps have been taken by local authorities in Songtao Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, to improve the living standards of those residents who had relocated from the county's poorer mountainous areas. These include better public services, career counselling, and more vocational training for the purpose of poverty relief.
By May 2020, a total of 26,964 rural residents have resettled in five resettlement sites in Songtao County. Among the relocated, 4,082 have been re-employed at top local enterprises and poverty-relief businesses, while some others choose to work away from home. Meanwhile, 3,798 relocated children have been enrolled in nearby schools.
Ran Xiaorong (R), a relocated rural resident, twirls a hula hoop while her husband Lyu Bo takes photos of her at their new residence at the Yucai resettlement site in Songtao County.
The couple moved here in June 2019 and both now work at a local textile company.
Ran Xiaorong (2nd L) and Lyu Bo (1st L) view a contrastive photo of their family's old house in the mountains and new residence at the Yucai resettlement site.
Peng Hongying, a relocated rural resident, is pictured at work in a poverty-relief factory of the Tuanshan resettlement site in Songtao County.
In June 2019, Peng and her husband moved to the Tuanshan resettlement site. Her husband is now working away from home.
An aerial view of the Tuanshan resettlement site for relocated rural residents in Songtao County.
A relocated rural resident picks vegetables in a reserved cultivation land next to the Yucai resettlement site in Songtao County.
A relocated rural resident works in a textile factory in Songtao County.
A relocated rural resident works in a textile factory in Songtao County.
Relocated rural residents work in reserved cultivation lands next to the Yucai resettlement site in Songtao County.
He Shuiju (L), a relocated rural resident, and her father view a contrastive photo of their family's old house in the mountains and new residence at the Yucai resettlement site in Songtao County.
He Shuiju and her family moved out of the mountains in June 2019. She now works at a local clothing factory and her family runs a community store at the Yucai resettlement site.
Yang Ying
Yang Ying was born in May 1964 in Guiyang, Guizhou Province. Yang started taking photos as a correspondent in 1984 when he joined the army. Since October 1993, he has been working as a photojournalist at Xinhua News Agency Guizhou Branch. Yang’s current focuses are environmental issues and local poverty relief efforts.
Producers: Wang Jianhua, Xue Dongmei
Editors: Li Mangmang, Lin Fanjing, An Xiya, Zhang Xinjing, Tang Rufeng
Web Designers: Peng Yuhe, Wang Yiliang
