‘Civilized’ residents get free 100-yuan cards

Roughly 210,000 households in Changning district are being awarded with a 100-yuan ($15.8) public transportation card for winning the 2011 National Civilized District award, a title meant to recognize the people who have made the district a "better place to live," authorities said Tuesday.

Local residents in the district with a Shanghai hukou (household registration) qualify their household for a card, prizes that will cost the city 21 million yuan. An accompanying thank you letter also highlights key contributions from district residents, who helped Changning snatch up the crown, including the creation of a safe and comfortable environment as well as various volunteer efforts.

"We hope that this small token of appreciation will encourage local residents to continue to strive to make their community a better place to live," a press officer, who asked only to be identified by his surname, Shi, from Changning district's government, told the Global Times Tuesday.

The city's third winner of the National Civilized District initiative that started in 2005 credits places that have achieved an open business culture and clean living environment in the pursuit of development. Jing'an district and Pudong New Area were Shanghai's previous award winners in 2009 and 2005, respectively.

Changning residents eligible for this year's prize, meanwhile, can claim their cards by bringing their hukou to the district's neighborhood committee offices until February 6, except on the days that staff are off for the Spring Festival holiday.

Party secretary of Changning's Jiangsu Road neighborhood committee Shen Aixian helped issue the first 1,000 cards Tuesday, when local authorities began distributing the awards.

"Local residents were very pleased to learn that their efforts to make their community better were not only recognized, but also appreciated by others," she told the Global Times. "Many of them took further pride in being a Changning resident."