Source: CCTV.com
05-08-2006 16:00
Democratic management in China's rural areas got underway 20 years ago and awareness among farmers has continued growing since.
It's been a year since 40-year-old Chen Defeng was elected as chief of Linqiao village. He hosts village meetings like this once a month.
On this occasion, the villagers are holding a heated debate on how to improve the village's infrastructure, and how much money each household should contribute to the project. Chen is looking for a majority vote to make the final decision.
Villager said: "Of course the village chief must respect our views, or we won't vote for him in the future."
Villager said: "Village affairs are transparent. And of course I'm quite happy to attend village meetings like this, because it can solve lots of real problems that affect us."
This video clip shot last year shows the process through which the village chief is elected. After three rounds of voting by the villagers, Chen Defeng won over 600 votes more than the former village chief.
Chen owes this to his outstanding techniques in planting and selling saplings, which his villagers believe will bring them wealth.
Chen said: "I know my major advantage is my skill in planting saplings and my experience in selling them. So it's my responsibility to teach this to my fellow villagers and lead them to wealth."
Under the leadership of Chen Defeng, almost all households in Linqiao village now make their fortune by growing and selling saplings. The village has now become so famous that it has customers from all over China.
As the villagers become wealthier, they are also showing increasing enthusiasm for managing village affairs. And the village leadership is trying its best to build a transparent form of management.
On this bulletin board, it reads such information as the village will construct a new office building by September and pave a new road by June. Bulletin board like this is a typical example of village affairs transparency in Linqiao and other villages in China. Besides, the major expenses of the village are made public here, and village committees are under the supervision of local farmers.
Details of the village committee's financial expenditures are sent to each household every three months. And villagers are entitled to ask questions on any item if they have doubts about it.
Chen can barely conceal his pride when he shows guests his certificate of election as village head. But the job brings with it no small amount of pressure. He shoulders the responsibility of not only leading the village onto a path of prosperity, but also of building a democratic environment for his fellow villagers.
Editor:Chen Minji
