The State Council indicated recently that low-income families must ensure that not only their incomes, but also their properties, should meet certain standards before they apply for subsistence allowances. Information about income and property conditions of all qualified families getting the allowances will be disclosed for society's scrutiny, says an article in Beijing Youth Daily. Excerpts:

This move can help eliminate unqualified, richer families — who forge fake materials to prove their poverty — from the application process. More needy families can get the taxpayers' money they need, although they will have to sacrifice some of their privacy.

For years society has demanded that government officials disclose their income and property conditions.

International experience shows this is quite an effective way to fight corruption. More public funds are lost through embezzlement than to families who lie about their property conditions to apply for subsistence allowances.