Statistics released Thursday by the Ministry of Civil Affairs showed that the country's average per capita monthly stipend was 55 yuan, about 6.63 US dollars.

Beijing Municipality's stipend, 231 yuan (about 27.8 US dollars), was the highest average per capita monthly allowance of all provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions.

Shanghai comes next with 138 yuan (about 16.63 US dollars) while the lowest was 35 yuan (about 4.22 US dollars) in north China's Hebei Province.

With the pilot program started in Shanghai in 1993, the basic living allowance has now spread across China and stands as the most basic government social assistance.

The minimum standard of living varies in different regions depending on the local costs of living. All urban households with a per capita income below the standard are eligible for the stipend.

Over the past three years, official investment in the program has witnessed a fast increase, with contributions from central and local governments totaling only 3.76 billion yuan (about 453 million US dollars) in 2000.

(People’s Daily July 25, 2003)