Tianjin shows how to build a healthy, inclusive society

The Tianjin Public Security Bureau authorities recently said they would issue permanent household registration, or hukou, to 193 homeless people with expressive language disorders who have been staying at relief centers for years.

In fact, one of them has been homeless for 28 years. As members of a disadvantaged group, these people are in urgent need of help, but it is difficult to extend social security to them without hukou. Once they possess an urban hukou, they can be included in Tianjin’s social security system and thus stop being identity-less or homeless.

The move comes in response to the Ministry of Civil Affairs’ announcement of a special campaign in March to improve support and management of vagrants and beggars. Tianjin has set a good example by issuing hukou to homeless people in order to better protect their legal rights and interests. That is something worth emulating nationwide.

Some people feel giving away hukou to homeless people is unfair to applicants with higher educational qualifications. However, such thoughts go against the inclusive principles of society.

In recent years many cities have joined the competition to rope in talents by issuing them hukou. This has given rise to the impression that talents alone are assets deserving of hukou. But a harmonious and healthy society is one that does not abandon its disadvantaged people, especially the homeless ones. Helping those in need of help is the basic requirement of a healthy society and improving the social relief system is the authorities’ inescapable responsibility.

Tianjin’s move shows what a healthy society should be like — it is where talents can pursue their dreams, while the disadvantaged groups receive good care.