From this year onwards, Sichuan will popularize the people-benefit
green burials across the province. For the bereaved families who agree cremation, the government will offer basic funeral
services in accordance with the policy by means of fee reduction or exemption,
subsidies, etc.
It is understood that the main service targets of the
pro-livelihood green burial policy are those who died within the administrative
area of Sichuan Province, registered permanent residence in Sichuan Province
and were cremated at funeral service agencies in Sichuan Province.
Specifically, the pro-livelihood projects include basic funeral services such
as collection and transportation of cremated remains, storage of cremated
remains, cremation of remains, storage of cremation ashes, etc. The fee
reduction and exemption as well as subsidy shall be determined by local
economic and social development levels.
With regards to the funds needed for the implementation of the
policy, the municipal and county-level finance departments will be in charge of
allocating money; the provincial finance department will take into account the
developments of subordinate cities and counties in implementing the green
burial reform, especially the number of cremations and the financial difficulties
encountered during the process so as to give appropriate subsidy to these
cities and counties. This year, Sichuan provincial finance department has
allocated RMB 80 million to subsidy difficult cities and counties through
"substitution of subsidies with rewards".
Putting in place the pro-livelihood green burial policy is one of
the 30 livelihood issues identified by the Sichuan Provincial People's Government
this year. In the future, civil affairs departments at all levels will work
with financial departments on strengthening the follow-up and supervision of
the implementation of the pro-livelihood green burial policy through
establishing and improving mechanisms and conducting regular or irregular
on-site inspections, third-party assessments, etc.