Draft protection law on senior assistance submitted

Lawmakers on Monday were considering setting up and improving the national assistance system for senior couples who have followed the family planning policy.

The draft protection law on the senior's rights and interests is now getting a second reading.

The proposal would expand the support system for rural areas, a monthly financial support that has been in place since 2004, to the whole country.

Demographers estimate there are 120 million households with only one child on the mainland, and about 2 million parents who have followed the family planning policy will end up childless by the year 2020, according to Zhai Zhenwu, professor at Renmin University of China.