The picture indicates that the whole society should give more concern to the left-behind children in rural areas. [Photo: Xinhua]

Chinese authorities have launched a general survey on the left-behind children in rural areas that runs from the end of March to the end of July.

It is the very first general survey of this kind in China, in a bid to work out proper aid schemes for the group.

Apart from basic personal information, the survey also includes educational and health situation of left-behind children, working place of their parents, family income sources, and information about their entrusted guardians.

It is estimated that China has more than 60 million left-behind children in rural areas, accounting for over 20 percent of the total population of children.

Professor Guan Xinping at Nankai University says the group is vulnerable in many respects.

"In the process of urbanization, many rural residents migrate to cities for a job. Though they have made great contributions to economic development and people's well-being, their low-income and the lack of supporting public services hinder them from taking their children to the city and taking care of them. Without parents' care, left-behind children face many problems in education, safety and mental health."

Nearly 50-thousand children a year die from accidental injury in China, most of them left-behind children. The number of crimes committed by left-behind children takes up 70 percent of the portion of under-age crimes in the country.

Last year, four left-behind siblings in Guizhou province committed suicide due to poor living conditions.

Guan Xinping stresses it is urgent to carry out general survey on the number and distribution of left-behind children, improve public services and financial aid to help them integrate into society.

Guan also urged schools and local authorities to protect and take care of left-behind children.