Poverty Alleviation Law Being Fundamental Condition for Ensuring Sustainable Development of Targeted Poverty Alleviation

Jiefang ZHU

Department of Finance and Economic Management, Modern College of Northwest University, Xi’an 710130, China

Abstract Targeted poverty alleviation is a wise and far-reaching basic national policy formulated by the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. It is a strategic project and strategic goal for the Chinese people to completely shake off poverty and backwardness and move towards a prosperous and powerful country, as well as the historical mission of socialism to defeat capitalism. However, targeted poverty alleviation is a grand project involving the entire society. To ensure the ultimate realization of the goal of targeted poverty alleviation, only policies and programs are far from enough. Corresponding legal systems must also be established, which is the fundamental condition for targeted poverty alleviation and sustainable development.

Key words Poverty alleviation law, Targeted poverty alleviation and sustainable development, Fundamental Conditions

1 Introduction

All poverty-stricken counties in China had been cleared in 2020, indicating that the targeted poverty alleviation project have achieved initial results. However, this is only the first step in the Long March. As the targeted poverty alleviation project further develops in depth, we will face greater difficulties and more arduous tasks. We must overcome these difficulties and complete these tasks to ensure targeted poverty alleviation, and sustainable development can only be achieved with the help of legal forms. Therefore, the formulation of a poverty alleviation law is a major issue that needs to be resolved urgently.

2 Inevitability of the formulation of the poverty alleviation law

2.1 Choosing the path of socialist development

Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people completed their exploration and cognition of socialism and the socialist system after countless blood and fire baptisms, and finally chose the path of socialist development. The practical process of the Chinese revolution and construction eloquently proved that only socialism can save China, only socialism can save the suffering and laboring masses, and only socialism can develop China. In other words, socialism best suits China’s national conditions, socialism best suits the fundamental interests of the Chinese people, and socialism is the only way for China to become brighter. However, choosing the socialist road is tantamount to choosing a very arduous development road, because socialism is not for the welfare of a few people, but for the welfare of all workers, which is decided by the inherent stipulations and essential characteristics of socialism. To achieve this goal, it will not be accomplished overnight, but through a long process. In this long process, only through unremitting efforts and struggle can the common prosperity of all workers be realized.

2.2 The economically poor and culturally blank foundation of economic development

At the beginning of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, what we were faced with was a mess left over from the old society. The foundation of economic development was poverty and waste. The economic characteristics at that time were extremely lack of economic resources and material supplies, extremely low industrial and agricultural productivity levels, extremely fragile national economy, and difficult to withstand the threats of various natural disasters and wars, and the people’s living standards had not been fundamentally improved. In order to consolidate the red regime, China carried out a series of major political, military and economic movements, including land reform, suppression of counter-revolution, the war to resist U.S. aggression and aid Korea, the struggles against the "three evils" and the "five evils", ideological remoulding, and one industrialization and three transformations. These large-scale movements greatly liberated and developed the productive forces, aroused the enthusiasm and initiative of the people throughout the country to work, and thus set off a new upsurge in building socialism. In particular, under the guidance of the Three Red Banners of the General Line, the Great Leap Forward, and the People’s Commune, it took only a few years to complete the socialist transformation of urban industry and commerce and the rural agricultural co-operative movement. With the smooth completion of the first five-year plan and the recovery of the national economy, China’s total material wealth had been improved to a certain extent, and the people’s living standards had also been improved to a certain extent. Of course, this kind of promotion and improvement was in a relative sense, and poverty and backwardness were still the main national conditions at that time.

2.3 Socialism is about eradicating poverty

After the 1960s, due to the rapid changes in the international situation, successive years of natural disasters, and certain errors in the work caused by human factors, the development of the national economy suffered serious setbacks. In this sinister international and domestic environment, deviations occurred in the decision-making of China’s future development direction, the factors of class struggle were exaggerated, and the factors of economic development were neglected. Until the end of the Cultural Revolution, the national economy had fallen to the brink of collapse, and the people’s living standards had also been greatly affected. Undoubtedly, if a country does not develop, it will fall behind, and it will be beaten if it falls behind. Reform and opening up are also forced by the situation. Summarizing the positive and negative experiences and lessons before and after reform and opening up, poverty is not socialism, and socialism is about eradicating poverty. If socialism cannot get rid of poverty, cannot create a higher level of productivity, and cannot cause material wealth to flow greatly, this kind of socialism is not socialism in the true sense, and this kind of socialism cannot defeat capitalism. Therefore, the fundamental purpose and task of socialism is to eradicate poverty.

2.4 The long-term basis and repeatability of targeted poverty alleviation

From a long-term perspective, poverty is an eternal theme in the development of human society, but the content, degree, characteristics, and forms of different historical development stages are different. Eradicating poverty and eradicating poverty are the common aspirations of people all over the world, and any country and any government must attach great importance to it. Throughout the history of world development, whether it is political, economic, ethnic, or war conflicts, they are all closely related to poverty. After more than 40 years of reform and opening up in China, although the productivity level and national wealth have been greatly improved, the people’s living standards have also been greatly improved. However, overall national strength and per capita GDP still belong to developing countries. Therefore, targeted poverty alleviation is still a long way to go. From the perspective of repeatability, the scope and population of China’s targeted poverty alleviation are unmatched by any country in the world. Targeted poverty alleviation is a social and historical project that a slight move in one part may affect the situation as a whole, and the degree of arduousness can be imagined. From a subjective point of view, it is necessary to have a serious, solid, meticulous, rigorous and scientific working attitude; and from an objective point of view, it is necessary to have the procedural operating conditions of systems, policies, schemes, management and laws. Deviations in any of the above conditions may lead to repetitions of targeted poverty alleviation. Meanwhile, after the poverty-stricken areas and poor people are lifted out of poverty, everything will not be all right, because if the follow-up work fails to keep up, there will be a return to poverty. The phenomenon of returning to poverty after poverty alleviation is also very common, because the economic status of the region and the population after poverty alleviation is very fragile, and it is difficult to resist various risks that appear in economic activities. Therefore, it is very necessary to strengthen the normalization of targeted poverty alleviation.

3 Current contradictions and problems in targeted poverty alleviation

3.1 Imperfect targeted poverty alleviation mechanism system

China’s targeted poverty alleviation is a very complex social project, which involves all departments in the political field and all departments in the economic field. The functions and roles of these different fields and different departments are very different, so a sound and complete mechanism system is needed for unified adjustments and unified arrangements. Otherwise, it is extremely likely that political resources and economic resources cannot be reasonably flowed and scientifically allocated, and it is difficult to achieve desired economic and social benefits of targeted poverty alleviation. The practical process of targeted poverty alleviation in China has further confirmed that in the absence of a sound and complete mechanism system, the functions and roles of different fields and departments will be disordered, and the role of various political and economic resources is also difficult to play to the best condition, which leads to an increase in the cost of targeted poverty alleviation and a decrease in the benefits of targeted poverty alleviation. At present, although China’s targeted poverty alleviation has made great achievements, it is still necessary to establish a sound and complete mechanism system, because a sound and complete mechanism system is an important condition for targeted poverty alleviation and sustainable development.

3.2 Inadequate implementation of the targeted poverty alleviation policy

Mao Zedong pointed out: "Policies and strategies are the life of the party, leading comrades at all levels must pay full attention to them, and must not be careless."No matter how good the targeted poverty alleviation policy is, it requires the truth-seeking and pragmatic work attitude of relevant agencies and poverty alleviation cadres at all levels of government to be implemented, otherwise these policies will be ineffective and difficult to take effect. The first is that some local government agencies and poverty alleviation cadres do not act, do less, and act lazily. They dealt with the targeted poverty alleviation work in a perfunctory, muddling, lazy and superficial manner, but it progressed vigorously in appearance, but did not go deep in fact. The second is that some local government agencies and poverty alleviation cadres do not conduct in-depth and detailed investigations and studies, and just take things for granted. Targeted poverty alleviation lacks pertinence and accuracy. Blind planning of poverty alleviation projects consumes a lot of manpower and material resources, without achieving desired results. The third is that some local government agencies and poverty alleviation cadres have temporary concepts, believe that precision poverty alleviation is a short-term task and lack the mental preparation for sustained combat. The fourth is that some local government agencies and poverty alleviation cadres are afraid of hardship, divorced from the masses, and divorced from reality, and flinch when encountering difficulties.

3.3 Irregular use of targeted poverty alleviation funds

Poverty alleviation funds are an important part of targeted poverty alleviation and play an irreplaceable role in the process of targeted poverty alleviation. However, due to the lack of corresponding binding force in the use of poverty alleviation funds, the use of poverty alleviation funds has become irregular. First, there is a tendency toward equalitarianism in the distribution of poverty alleviation funds. Because accurate recognition is not in place, it is inevitable that everyone has a tendency to share. As a result, who should be given are given less, and who should not be given are given. The former is not offered with fuel in snowy weather, but the latter progresses to a better situation of icing on the cake. The second is that some impoverished people are waiting, relying on, and demanding seriously. Because the state provides preferential measures such as funds and materials for the poor, some poor people have developed the idea of dependence. In order to achieve the goal of getting more, some poor people use various means to become the poor, greatly reducing the endogenous motivation to get rid of poverty and become rich. The third is to obtain funds through the approval process. Some rural cadres withdraw funds by modifying approval conditions, repeating application, and fraudulent registration, which not only makes the distribution of poverty alleviation funds unfair, but also reduces the efficiency of the use of poverty alleviation funds. Fourth, some projects violate the direction of the use of poverty alleviation funds. Some rural cadres use poverty alleviation funds at will. They do not really use poverty alleviation funds for poverty alleviation. Instead, they are keen on vanity projects and face-saving projects, which violates the true use of poverty alleviation funds.

3.4 Targeted poverty alleviation causes unbalanced development

Targeted poverty alleviation has a special objectivity. After targeted poverty alleviation, a new development imbalance has arisen between these special objectivity and non-objectivity. First, the inclination of the targeted poverty alleviation policy has caused new development imbalances between poor villages and non-poor villages, poor households with registered cards and poor households without registered cards. The inclination of the targeted poverty alleviation policy has enabled various poverty alleviation resources and funds to be invested in poverty-stricken villages and filed poor households. It can greatly improve the infrastructure and economic income levels of poor villages and poor households with registered cards in a relatively short period of time, which will inevitably lead to new imbalances in the development of poor villages and non-poor villages, and poor households with registered cards and poor households without registered cards. Second, the convergence of poverty alleviation projects led by some local governments is serious. These poverty alleviation projects are basically short, flat, and fast old ways of planting or breeding, lacking long-term and sustainable projects. Before the implementation of targeted poverty alleviation, some poor villages and poor households had chosen an industrial structure and product structure that met the needs of the market after a long period of integration with the market economy. However, after the implementation of targeted poverty alleviation, some local governments force poor villages and poor households to participate in local government-led poverty alleviation projects, and cause the situation that a large number of products cannot be sold, which worsens the situation of poor villages and poor households that are economically fragile.

4 The poverty alleviation law is the fundamental condition for ensuring the sustainable development of targeted poverty alleviation

4.1 Solving the problem of imperfect poverty alleviation mechanism system

Various departments in the political field and various departments in the economic field involved in the targeted poverty alleviation project have a legal system that is compatible with the field and each department in this field, while these legal systems are only suitable for corresponding field and various departments in corresponding field, and have no effect on other fields and various departments in other fields. Therefore, only through the poverty alleviation law can we standardize the mechanism system for the allocation of resources in the targeted poverty alleviation project in various departments of the political and economic fields. In other words, the poverty alleviation law is the fundamental guarantee of the targeted poverty alleviation mechanism system. Under the influence of the poverty alleviation law, the targeted poverty alleviation mechanism system can completely scientifically allocate political and economic resources of targeted poverty alleviation, so as to make these political and economic resources play a greater role. Meanwhile, according to relevant provisions of the poverty alleviation law, the targeted poverty alleviation mechanism system can be a comprehensive, multi-layered, and multi-functional complex mechanism system. Such mechanism system can not only scientifically allocate various poverty alleviation resources, but also can choose resources that suit the needs of the market for market-oriented operation and flow. In addition, according to relevant provisions of the poverty alleviation law, more accurate identification and more accurate assistance can also be carried out on the targets of poverty alleviation.

4.2 Solving the problem of inadequate implementation of the targeted poverty alleviation policy

The implementation of any kind of policy must be through certain means with compelling force, constraining force and executive force, especially the implementation of the targeted poverty alleviation policy. Targeted poverty alleviation is a major deployment of our party and our country in the new historical period involving the future and destiny of the country’s development, and the poverty alleviation law is an important guarantee for achieving this major deployment. First, the relevant agencies and poverty alleviation cadres of governments at all levels are the key to the implementation of poverty alleviation policies. Mao Zedong pointed out: "After the political line is determined, cadres are the decisive factor."The functions and responsibilities of relevant agencies and poverty alleviation cadres of governments at all levels are to implement the party and the state’s targeted poverty alleviation policy. However, only functions and responsibilities are not enough. We must also rely on the authority of the poverty alleviation law, so that the targeted poverty alleviation policy can be truly implemented. The second is that investigation and research are the prerequisite and basis for the implementation of the targeted poverty alleviation policy. Investigation and research is the first step in carrying out targeted poverty alleviation. If this step is serious and meticulous and the identification is accurate, the targeted poverty alleviation policy can be implemented smoothly. If this step is sloppy and lacks refinement, the targeted poverty alleviation policy will not be implemented at the very beginning. The poverty alleviation law can strictly regulate the procedures and steps of investigation and research in accordance with relevant provisions and regulations, so that all kinds of poverty alleviation information can be established on a true and reliable basis. Third, targeted poverty alleviation is a long-term, far-reaching and arduous strategic project. This project cannot be completed overnight and requires the entire nation to pay more effort and price in a long process. The poverty alleviation law can determine the long-term nature of the targeted poverty alleviation project in the form of law, gradually complete the tasks of each stage of targeted poverty alleviation projects by formulating a strict assessment mechanism, assessment system and assessment indicators, and finally complete all tasks. Fourth, the poverty alleviation law can strictly regulate the work attitude and sense of responsibility of relevant agencies and poverty alleviation cadres of governments at all levels in accordance with relevant provisions and regulations, so as to ensure that every link of targeted poverty alleviation must be operated under strict supervision.

4.3 Solving the problem of irregular use of targeted poverty alleviation funds

Poverty alleviation funds are the material guarantee for the implementation of targeted poverty alleviation. If they are used irregularly, the role and effectiveness of poverty alleviation funds will be greatly weakened. Due to many subjective and objective reasons, irregular use of poverty alleviation funds is still widespread. First, the fundamental reason for the even distribution of targeted poverty alleviation funds is the lack of refined management. Due to the inaccurate identification of poverty alleviation targets, poverty alleviation funds are not used on the cutting edge, thus greatly reducing the effect of targeted poverty alleviation. The poverty alleviation law can strictly regulate the criteria, conditions and procedures for identifying poverty targets through relevant provisions, and allocate poverty alleviation funds in a fair, reasonable and differentiated manner according to the actual conditions of the poverty alleviation targets, and ensure that the poverty alleviation funds operate in the sun. The second is the long-term poverty alleviation with money and materials make some poor households become lazy, and some poor households mistakenly believe that poverty alleviation is the government’s business and has nothing to do with poor households. According to relevant provisions of the poverty alleviation law, poor households can not only be given legal rights, but also legal obligations, and poor households are the unity of rights and obligations. Such a principle that poor households are the main force to get rid of poverty and alleviation of poverty and prosperity will ultimately depend on the hard work of poor households, must be conveyed to poor households. The third is that administrative and policy measures cannot prevent the occurrence of arbitrage of funds. Due to the limitations of administrative and policy measures, some rural cadres obtain poverty alleviation funds by various methods. According to relevant provisions of the poverty alleviation law, strict supervision and control of the use of poverty alleviation funds can be implemented from beginning to end, and each use of poverty alleviation funds must be transparent and open. Meanwhile, the poverty alleviation law can also severely pursue legal responsibilities against the parties involved in obtaining poverty alleviation funds. Fourth, some rural cadres misappropriate poverty alleviation funds at will. In order to highlight their personal work performance, some rural cadres change the nature of poverty alleviation funds at will, seriously reducing the effectiveness of the use of poverty alleviation funds. According to relevant provisions of the poverty alleviation law, every poverty alleviation fund can have a legal meaning, and the use of each poverty alleviation fund can be strictly regulated, and it is not allowed to be embezzled for other purposes. Meanwhile, it is necessary to guide poor households to actively participate in the supervision and management of poverty alleviation fund projects.

4.4 Solving the problem of uneven development caused by targeted poverty alleviation

Poverty alleviation is a big concept, and poverty alleviation projects are also comprehensive. After the implementation of targeted poverty alleviation, a new development imbalance will occur between poverty alleviation targets and people who are not poverty alleviation targets. If this new development imbalance is allowed to continue to develop, new contradictions and problems will arise. The first is that poverty alleviation resources and funds are characterized by agglomeration and concentration, so poverty alleviation targets can develop quickly in a relatively short period of time. When the targets of poverty alleviation are developed, new development imbalances will arise. The poverty alleviation law can adjust the strategy and direction of precise poverty alleviation in a timely manner in accordance with relevant provisions and regulations, continuously expand the areas of poverty alleviation, and further advance the depth and breadth of poverty alleviation. In this adjustment process, two tendencies should be avoided. One is to strictly enforce poverty alleviation standards to prevent some poor people from being unwilling to withdraw after reaching the poverty alleviation standards. The other is to strictly and accurately identify standards and conditions for new poverty alleviation goals and targets. Second, local governments cannot force poor villages and poor households to participate in the industrial structure and product structure led by the local governments. After the implementation of the targeted poverty al-leviation projects, some local governments disregard the characteristics of the natural resources of the region and impose a one-size-fits-all approach, which not only fails to lift poor villages and poor households out of poverty, but also increases the burden on poor villages and poor households. The poverty alleviation law can scientifically demonstrate and strictly supervise the feasibility and reliability of poverty alleviation projects led by local governments in accordance with relevant provisions and regulations to prevent blind decision-making, and encourage local governments to establish the awareness of a modern market economy and develop relevant industrial structures and product structures in accordance with local conditions.