THE city has pledged 10 measures to further improve residents’ living standard this year.

    The city will increase its subsidies to low-income residents.

    Construction of 8,000 government-subsidized apartments for rent and 5,000 homes affordable to low-income residents is scheduled to start this year.

    In public transport, the city will add 800 environmentally friendly buses and provide special subsidies to 600 school buses in rural areas.

    Government subsidies will also go to the construction and reconstruction of five public kindergartens, and the development of the city’s maternity wards.

    A total of nine retirement homes will also be constructed.

    The government will provide a yearly subsidy of no less than 240 yuan to each farmer for their medical treatment.

    Efforts will be made to create jobs for 250,000 people in urban and rural areas and the urban unemployment rate will be kept below 4 percent.

    One-off subsidies will be given to jobseeking college graduates.

    (Li Hao, Liu Zhenxing)