A Study Of Relief Institute In Suiyuan Province During Nanjing National Government(1946-1949)

Social relief has existed since ancient times,which was always been used as an important measure for all rulers to consolidate their power and stabilize the society.However,traditional social relief tends to "relief-oriented and education-neglected",most of which are negative afterwards relief.In modern times,the methods and contents of social relief in our country have gradually changed,which was influenced by Western advanced ideas and the promotion of enlightened Chinese,and new relief systems have been established.After the establishment of the Nanjing National Government,the national relief institutes(almshouses)were established throughout the country by successively issuing decrees.The almshouses have served as the main institutions in the National Government to deal with the social relief all over the country,which reflects the state's leading role of social relief.Some new concepts of relief were presented in its organizational structure,management methods,relief content,expenditure and management of funds and other aspects,which has played an important role in the social security at that time.Under this background,Suiyuan Province finally set up almshouses in 1946,and launched social relief activities that were suitable forSuiyuan Province.There were old people's homes,nurseries,arts institutes,medical clinics,disability institutes and other production facilities in the relief institute of Suiyuan Province,which provided extensive relief for the old,the sick,the displaced,and the refugees.Its relief methods followed the police of the central government and imposed the principle of “focusing on both relief and education”,which was prominently reflected in the education management of children in the almshouse.In general,the relief institute of Suiyuan Province continued to improve and develop its abilities of management,organization and personnel and so on,and it was an important part of the relief business in the Suiyuan area at that time.To a certain extent,it played an effective role in aiding the poor and stabilizing the society.At the same time,it also promoted the spread of advanced relief concepts in remote areas.However,the lack of funds has always restricted the development of the relief institute in Suiyuan Province,thus it failed to achieve the overall relief level of the almshouses in other provinces of the Mainland.