Families of people hurt or killed performing acts of heroism will receive help with their medical costs, living expenses and accommodation, as the government looks to build a safety net for Good Samaritans.

Experts say the measures, announced Thursday by the State Council, will help battle the "bystander effect" and encourage more people to assist others in times of need.

According to the new regulations, human resource departments will need to prioritize giving employment opportunities to people who have been rewarded by authorities for their heroism.

In addition, for those who lost their lives helping others, local governments or their employers should pay families subsidies, as well as provide favorable policies to ensure their children have access to education.

Heroes with low incomes will also be given priority if they are on the waiting list for affordable housing programs or State-sponsored house renovation programs.

Seven government agencies including the ministries of civil affairs and health will carry out the new regulations.

Sun Shaochi, vice-minister of civil affairs, said on Thursday that the policies will help relieve hardships for people who perform brave acts and their families, as well as encourage people to "do the right thing".

A news website in Zhejiang province in 2010 looked at 451 people who performed brave acts, and found that 93 of them lost their lives and 180 were injured when helping others. It also showed that 80 percent of those polled live in economic difficulty.

Li Junqing, a 57-year-old resident in Lishui, Zhejiang province, was among them, Today Morning Express reported.

Li lost vision in his left eye and had ribs broken by a street gang when he tried to help a young couple in 2005.

The report said more than 20 passers-by just stood there watching when the gang bullied the young couple, beat Li when he tried to intervene, and then ran away.

Without health insurance, Li had to pay 100,000 yuan ($15,700) in medical bills, most of which he borrowed from relatives.

Li lived in a rented apartment with his wife, surviving on a monthly income of 1,000 yuan.

William Valentina, a professor from the China Institute of Social Responsibility at Beijing Normal University, welcomed the move to reward people's selfless acts in helping others.

He argued that the new regulations will help to reduce the bystander effect when people see others in need of help but "they don't want to get involved, thinking that others will take care of it".

He said China can be called a harmonious society when every citizen takes individual social responsibility.

However, he stressed that the government should carefully check each case to prevent people doing good deeds only for the benefits.

Ge Daoshun, an expert of social policy with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said providing rewards for people's brave acts is necessary given that China's social security network is yet to be established.

The government should speed up perfecting the social security system, which should move forward from solving the survival issues of the poorest to protecting every citizen's basic welfare, he said.

hedan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 07/27/2012 page4)