Sichuan is keen to hear the views of its young women.

Of the 148 NPC deputies representing the province's 87 million people, 13 were born after 1970 and all of them are women.

The young women are taking the responsibilities they shoulder very seriously, even if it means sleepless nights.

Zhang Beibei, a 25-year-old dancer from the Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, said: "I am constantly thinking about how to better fulfill my duties as a national legislator."

"I am from the grassroots and know what poor people and minority groups need," Zhang, the youngest member in the Sichuan delegation, said.

Keen to preserve the culture of her fellow residents from the Yi minority, Zhang is calling on the government to introduce concrete measures to protect ethnic heritage.

Education is also a major concern, she said.

Because of how far away they live from their schools, many children in the prefecture have to get up very early to make it to their classes on time. Then they have just three hours' education, because they have to head back home again.

"We need more schools near people's homes, or we should move poor families to communities that already have them," Zhang said.

Also from the Yi ethnic minority, Ma Jinfang, who was born in the 80s, said she wants to provide more material benefits for the farmers she represents.

"The villagers in my hometown badly need doctors," Ma, who is the head of women's affairs in the village of Luziping in Anshun county, said.

As with many villages in rural China, Luziping's healthcare needs are served by only a tiny clinic. Two doctors worked there last year but they left because of low wages.

Guo Hongmei, who is head of civil affairs in Sichuan's Tongjiang county, said she is fully aware of her duty as an NPC deputy from the grassroots.

"The most important part of my job is listening to the people and making sure their voices are heard."

She also wants to make more people aware of her county.

(China Daily March 6, 2008)