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District uses new index to tackle corruption
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FUYANG District in Hangzhou is taking corruption seriously. Officials have adapted the Corruption Perception Index, an international ranking that lists perceived levels of corruption in every country, in an effort to keep government clean at the grassroots level.
Of the county’s 276 villages, nine have received a “C” rating and yellow card while 47 had a “B” grade and were issued warnings when the index was released last month.
“The index is like a whip that spurs village cadres,” said Huang Heming, a Fuyang Commission for Discipline Inspection official, adding the government will reassess the work of village cadres after the warnings and yellow cards are given. They will be replaced if their work does not improve, Huang said.
Cai Liping, a Changkou Town official in Fuyang, said: “Cadres in C-level villages will not be eligible for a bonus from the government.”
Fuyang, formerly a county-level city within Hangzhou that was turned into a district earlier this year, will do the assessments once a quarter. It started the assessments in February, 2014.
A top score is 100. Points are deducted according to a package of rules. For example, one point is subtracted for failing to report the village’s administration costs to villagers. Disobeying the rules of managing the village’s administration costs leads to a five-point deduction. Points are also deducted if village cadres go to casinos or drive under the influence of alcohol.
Villagers are encouraged to supervise cadres. Higher levels of government may drop by for surprise evaluations at any time.
“I actually feel less pressure now as all village affairs are in public,” said Su Zhirong, Party secretary of Qinfeng Village, which had an “A” ranking last year. In his village, a large board lists all profit-and-pay items from telephone bills to calls for bids.
“The ‘index test’ transfers my power to villagers,” he said, “which protects me by lightening my burden. It doesn’t, as some think, undermine my authority at all.”
Fuyang isn’t the only place in Hangzhou asking villagers to “supervise” cadres.
In Jingshan Town in Yuhang, locals are obliged to adjust their officials’ salaries by up to 30 percent, according to their performance.
The assessment is held annually during a village meeting. The village cadre reports his/her work to villagers and an official from town government gives the assessment. Village representatives then write down whether they think the cadre deserves a pay cut or rise. A maximum 30 percent raise or deduction is permitted.
Ma Renxiang, secretary of Jingshan Village, said his monthly income was raised to 2,851 yuan (US$456) per month earlier this year.
“In recent years they keep giving me a 30-percent raise because they see I do practical things for them,” Ma said proudly.
In the past decade Ma has spearheaded a plan to turn Jingshan Village into a tourist destination.
A villager surnamed Huang said the system has made him feel like his voice matters.
“I did not care much about the village’s affairs before, and I did not know how much they earned,” Huang said.
“But now I know my voice can be heard and I pay more attention to my village’s development,” he added.
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