Dawa Drolma (1st, right) , head of Gyangze County in Xigaze Prefecture of TAR,  is allocating  minimum living subsidies  to needy rural people in Tibet's agricultural and pastoral areas, photo from Xinhua, Dec.12, 2007.

Urgyen Dorje, a farmer from Xingfu Village of Gyangze County in Xigaze Prefecture, is showing his minimum living subsidy and the certificate, photo from Xinhua, Dec.12, 2007.

As one of the first counties to carry out the basic living allowance system in Tibet, Gyangze County in Xigaze Prefecture began to distribute basic living subsidies to needy rural people starting from Dec.12. In the near future, 230,000 needy rural people will all get their minimum living subsidies from the local government in TAR.

Tibet implemented the basic living guarantee system for the low-income rural people since July 1, 2007. Under this policy, any rural family whose annual income is lower than 800 yuan (about 106 USD) can apply for basic living subsidies and the maximum standard of basic living subsidy is 420 yuan (about 55 USD) per person per year.