China Expects More Lawmakers to Represent Grassroots Causes

China expects to have more of its lawmakers speaking for the country's grassroots causes.

Delegates at the ongoing annual sessions of the National People's Congress are busy examining the amendment to the country's Electoral Law, which stresses giving rural residents as much say as their urban counterparts in national decision making.

Wang Ling has more.

Liu Dajiang is a potato farmer from Anding in the northwestern Gansu Province, a place deemed unfavorable for grain yield by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization. Representing nearly 3 million farmers in his hometown, Liu last year presented Premier Wen Jiabao a basket of potatoes along with his motion to subsidize potato growers.

"The potato is the staple crop in Dingxi because we have very little rain and cool temperatures. As one of those making a living off potatoes, I suggested at last year's National People's Congress that potatos should be covered by the government subsidies for superior crop varieties and potato growers should be included on the list of grain producers to enjoy direct subsidies."

Liu's call was answered quickly with the central government's decision to offer farmers 600 yuan for every acre of potato seed planted. Millions of farmers can now make money growing potatoes thanks to Liu Dajiang's efforts to deliver their concerns to top decision makers.

With the amended Electoral Law, China's legislature bodies expect to see more members like Liu Dajiang, who speak for rural concerns. Under the existing law, each rural deputy represents four times as many people as an urban deputy. But the revision aims to ensure equal electoral rights between urban and rural people by adopting the same ratio of their representatives.

The revised Electoral Law is believed to be part of the government's efforts to "further expand primary-level democracy" as declared in Premier Wen's government work report.

Wang Lei, a law professor with Peking University, explains.

"The amendment will strengthen the grassroots voices. If it is adopted, there will be more deputies representing the rural population and delivering the grassroots concerns in China's legislature bodies at all levels. "

Meanwhile, some question if this change based on demographics can truly improve the political representation of rural and grassroots interests. Experts suggest it is more important for the voters to know who they are going to vote for and why. Here is Professor Wang Lei again.

"Our vote should go to those who know the grassroots concerns well and who can be counted on to deliver the grassroots voices. It is even more important for the deputies to know how they can speak well for the grassroots society than that they are simply identified as members of the society."

From an ordinary potato farmer to the Chinese parliament member, Liu Dajiang has been impressed by the increasing respect and attention the country has given to him and his rural fellows. At the same time, he says he has more work to do with his entitlement in the country's top legislature.

"I'm glad that I can speak for my rural brothers and sisters. And I also give my commitment I will work harder on learning about their needs and doing thorough research so I can make my suggestions based on the most concerned of the grassroots people."

Liu says he will give Premier Wen Jiabao another potato gift at this year's meeting and he will continue to blaze the trail for Chinese farmers to become rich from growing potatoes.

Wang Ling CRI news.