A 9-year-old boy and his 4-year-old sister were forced to kneel on the side of the road begging for money so they could bury their father, says an article on xinhuanet.com. Excerpts:

Jiang and his family live in an abandoned house next to a public toilet in Xianyang city, Shaanxi province. As Jiang's registered permanent residence is in Sichuan province, his two children have no hukou.

Those without a hukou cannot enjoy the minimum living standard guarantee. They do not have social security or relief. They cannot afford to live, nor can they afford to die.

Well-intentioned people passing by will donate money to help the two poor children.

But without a hukou who should be responsible for helping them?

The urban neighborhood office said they cannot do anything.

The plight of the two children fully reflects the nonfeasance of the local government. If the local government was really paying attention to people's livelihoods and was implementing policies to improve them, the local civil affairs department would give them care. After all, they are ordinary Chinese citizens and should not be ignored.

Therefore, different regions should strengthen cooperation to develop specific rules and regulations to help those without a hukou. Local authorities should try to manage those children without a hukou and provide them with education and healthcare. In this way, they can have a stable life and society will become more harmonious.

People without a hukou are the product of the country's rigid household registration system.

Nowadays, they are mainly concentrated in rural areas. They should be given due legal status and enjoy social security.

(China Daily 06/01/2012 page9)