For residents of an aging residential community in Beijing’s Haidian District, a long-standing infrastructure issue had been making daily life a challenge. Built in 1990, their homes had a peculiar flaw: the bathroom floors were raised nearly 10 centimeters above the living room floors. This design quirk posed a constant hazard, especially for the elderly residents navigating their homes.
Unable to renovate independently due to a shared piping system, the residents turned to local authorities for help. Enter Chen Shaopeng, a deputy of the Haidian District People’s Congress and an official with the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. Invited by the community in February, Chen visited the neighborhood to witness the problem firsthand.
Listening attentively to the residents’ concerns, Chen recognized the urgency of addressing the issue to improve their safety and quality of life. He understood that any renovation would need to consider the intricacies of the shared infrastructure. Determined to find a solution, Chen collaborated with the construction team responsible for upcoming water system upgrades.
Through persistent dialogue, Chen secured a commitment from the construction team to lower the bathroom floors during their pipe renovation project. His advocacy ensured that the renovations would not only update the water systems but also rectify the decades-old design flaw affecting the residents.
This successful intervention is a testament to the active role of China’s people’s congresses in enriching democracy at the grassroots level. By bridging the gap between citizens and authorities, deputies like Chen are fostering responsive governance that addresses the real-life needs of the people.
Reference(s):
70 years on, China's people's congresses keep enriching democracy
cgtn.com
