In terms of the second function (Figure 3), we can see that the challenges that the deputies face was less than their achievements in “enforcing laws and policies of the state” in representing the state. The achievements of the deputies include “family planning policy”,
“implementation of national policies”, “maintaining and supporting the state education policy” and “promotion of the industrial development nationwide” (Table 3). The challenges they face are less diverse than their achievements, and include three aspects (Table 4): “family planning policy”, “education” and “rural-urban income equality”. Family planning policy was seen as both an achievement and a challenge.
The deputies understand that they “should be a model and actively respond to state policies” (Deputy 10). They felt that they have generally made achievements in the “implementation of national policies” in representing the interests of the state. As there are a lot of state policies
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which they have promoted, most of the deputies did not refer to a specific policy that they have made achievements in implementation when they were interviewed as they talked about their achievements in a more general way.
We have made achievements in promoting the state laws and policies, but there
are still some local people who violate the laws. The principle ‘People First’
means nothing to those who disobey laws and regulations. So the state must crack down on them severely (Deputy 16).
Every time when I attend a LCPC meeting, I study the Party principles and State policies. I promote the principles and policies. Generally speaking, the state policies are multi-dimensional and good…. I often visit constituencies, solicit the
villagers’ opinions and help them to understand the state policies (Deputy 22).
Three specific examples of the implementation of national policies are the “family planning policy”, “maintaining and supporting the state education policy” and “promotion of the industrial development nationwide”. In Function 2 (Tables 3 and 4), the item “family
planning policy” is recognised as both an achievement and a challenge. It appears three times, twice in the achievements and once in the challenges of representing the state. The deputies believe that they have made great achievements in the promotion of the family planning policy. When they promote this policy, they are also facing challenges because of the policy itself. Under the family planning policy, if both the wife and husband are farmers or of an ethnic minority, the couple can have a second child. The deputies think that when they promote this state policy, they have to consider other aspects. On the one hand, they think that they have successfully promoted this policy, because most of the local people obey the
policy, and the policy “really benefits Miao people” (Deputy 4); on the other hand, the deputies have “challenges in the implementation of family planning policy” (Deputy 29) on
behalf of the state, because they have to consider those who violate the rule. Some farming
couples had more than two children. They “disobey the family planning policy” and they
“will be fined ... as social compensation” (Deputy 7).
While promoting the family planning policy the deputies also play their roles in “maintaining and supporting the state education policy”. They believe that a good education will help in promoting family planning policy.
I actively promote national policies such as family planning and the education policies. There has not been one single violation against family planning in our
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community due to our qualified promotion. I myself never violate the policies. I also promote the state education policy. I treat students well in accordance with
the regulation of the state Teacher’s Law (Deputy 5).
The deputies recognise that education is a prominent challenge when they promote the national policies in enforcing the laws and policies of the state in representing the interests of the state. The deputies themselves have different levels of education. Some deputies have a low level of education of just primary school, junior or senior high schools while some have a diploma or bachelor degree (See Table 14 in Section 5.2.4 in Chapter five). According to several deputies, the low level of education becomes a disadvantage for the deputies in playing their roles, because it produces “many limitations” when the deputies play their role
in the “execution of their responsibilities” (Deputy 6).
Many constituents have low level of education, so some deputies believe that they suffer difficulty in promoting and implementing national policies to the local people.
A difficulty I have in playing my role is that many villagers have a low level of education. Many are illiterate. It is difficult to mobilise them and they don’t understand the state policies due to their low level of education (Deputy 12). What I feel the saddest about is that the majority of the Miao people in their forties in this area are still illiterate, so we face difficulties in promoting (state) policies and providing leadership for the masses in areas of development (Deputy 18).
The technical ability of the people is quite weak. So we also need to organise training to increase their technical expertise. Sometimes, the local people do not understand even after completing the training due to their low education level. So we need even more supervision in such cases (Deputy 34).
“Promotion of the industrial development nationwide” is another achievement that the deputies recognize in representing the interests of the state. Promoting local development is under the general development plan of the state, so the deputies address their local development under the framework of the state development and they put industrial development in the category of representing the interests of the state, rather than representing the community.
I meet cadres and village representatives to discuss the construction of infrastructure, industrial development and the spiritual civilisation in their
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villages. I link these issues with the overall development of the township. We try to solve issues at the village level. At our township level, we try to solve the issues related to development, such as industrial management, technical guidance and funds for bridge building and road works (Deputy 9).