国内英语资讯: Feature: A grassroots officials fight against poverty_时事

国内英语资讯: Feature: A grassroots officials fight against poverty

But low literacy and lack of industry kept the region in extreme poverty. It was as if there was no way out.

In 2010, over half of Dawuzhuang's 1,700-plus residents survived on an annual income of about 2,600 yuan (377 U.S. dollars) per person, below the national poverty line of 2,300 yuan.

China has targeted eradicating poverty by 2020, but it is an arduous task given that there were still 43.35 million people living in poverty at the end of last year.

For grassroots-level officials like Wu, escaping poverty is not the stuff of empty words but something to be carried-out step by step.

To raise startup funds for a dairy farm and textile mill in the village, Wu withdrew all her savings and called her daughter, who works in Beijing, countless times to borrow money.

"Once my daughter came to see me, the first thing she said was 'Mom, I don't have a penny,'" Wu said.

During her tenure in Dawuzhuang between 2010 and 2017, she arranged for the repairing of the the school, building of 11 roads and opening of a nursing home. The average per capita annual income in Dawuzhuang doubled to 5,600 yuan, and 76 families were lifted out of poverty.

But overwork hurt Wu's health. She suffers from diabetes and renal dysfunction, but has chosen to stay on the front line.

Xiwanglou village where she works now is even poorer.

With a population of 2,000, many people in the village live in isolated mountain areas, without roads. Children had to hike several kilometers to school every day.