A new plan to ensure the basic living interests of orphans in the Tibet Autonomous Region has been developed by the local government in Lhasa.

According to a recent local government TV conference on the issue, the plan guarantees that governments of all level in Tibet will arrange for guardians for orphans under age five; school-age orphans are permitted to have a free basic education, and; if they are eligible to enter colleges or universities, the local government will continue to provide them with stipends and loans until they graduate.

Those grown-up orphans, who do not have any special skills and require special attention and care, can also get professional training and job opportunities with the help of local departments of education.

So far, Shannan Prefecture has put the plan into practice. A number of individuals and organizations there are participating in the assistance program.

The Youth Foundation of the autonomous region has recently contributed nearly 100,000 yuan (US$12,000) to the prefecture to go toward the work.