Pay more attention to grass-roots deputies

• Source: Global Times
• [01:21 March 10 2010]
• Comments

By Chen Chenchen

The ongoing Third Session of the National People's Congress (NPC), as usual, is making waves in the media.

Everyday on TV, one sees local government leaders, elected as NPC deputies, ringed by a dozen of cameras and recorders. Newspapers and websites also jump at this chance to launch "high-profile" talk shows.

NPC, where grass-roots voices are supposed to be heard, has seemingly become an assembly for officials across the nation.

That is attributable to the overwhelming number of official-turned deputies in NPC delegations.

Take the NPC delegation from Jiangxi Province: 50 of the 78 deputies are central and local government leaders originating in Jiangxi; 13 are academicians, nine entrepreneurs, and only three workers and farmers.

In the circumstances, voices of grass-roots representatives are barely heard.

Many official-turned deputies with the gift of the gab outline grand proposals that may sound wide of the mark to ordinary Chinese.

During Monday's deliberations on a draft amendment for eliminating the discrepancy in rural-urban representation in the people's congresses, Shan Xiaoming, head of Haian in Jiangsu Province, insisted on introducing Haian's history and economy.

The presenter interrupted and reminded her to stick to comments on the amendment.

Shan retorted, "This is what my voters asked me to say," and went on with her introduction.

Shan is not the only example of officials enthusiastic about talking needlessly at the Two Sessions.

Plenty of officials regard NPC as a platform to put on a political performance.

Some official-turned deputies know little about the difficult living conditions of the poorer sections.

Except for repeating, "We have confidence," they can provide no valuable solution to any economic and social problem from a national perspective.

Surrounded by these deputy "figures," the voices of the limited number of farmers or workers are comparatively very weak.

The "two sessions" are a good opportunity for ordinary Chinese people to keep a close watch and get a clear explanation of policy formulation.

However, it is also a rare opportunity for the farmer or worker deputies to speak from their heart, which is very important to the progress of China's democratic politics.

In the present situation, NPC delegations from the regions should create conditions for encouraging ordinary deputies to speak more.

For instance, they can stipulate how many proposals related to civil livelihood topics should be presented, and arrange for farmer and worker deputies to intervene in group discussions.

With an environment facilitating more free expression, ordinary deputies should also learn to speak up and participate in discussing State affairs.

Besides, media also need to care more about ordinary deputies. They're duty bound to transmit grass-roots opinions, too.

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