China to promote equal access to funeral services

BEIJING - People should have equal access to basic burial and funeral services by the end of 2015, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) on Friday.

Providing basic funeral services to low-income groups, and the society at large, including body transportation, preservation, cremation and the placement of ashes, is a project that benefits people, the ministry said.

In March, the MCA said it would promote a policy of benefiting people by reducing or remitting basic funeral charges for low-income groups.

Some regions have implemented the policy with different measures, reducing people's financial burdens. However, funeral security varies significantly among different social groups and between rural and urban residents, according to the MCA.

The ministry urged local civil affairs authorities to roll out specific measures, specifying the coverage of the policy, standard of assistance, sources of funds and simplify procedures for low-income groups to apply for assistance.

The ministry also urged local authorities to award those who choose environment friendly burial methods.