March 23,2020 -- Saga Niga village is located in the center of Jianzhatan town, Jianzha county with an elevation of 3,400 meters, also the only village living off husbandry in the county.

 

“We used to live in a black tent made of ox hair for shelter when we were on the grassland,” said the 79-year-old Suonanji.

 

In 2017, the family of Suonanji and other herdsmen in the other four villages were relocated to new houses supported by the government. In the new community for Saga Niha villagers, there are more than 300 houses and 20 shops including grocery stores, restaurants and automobile service shops.

 

There were only just over 50 households in Saga Niha and one mud road before 2007. Villagers had no access to electricity before 2008. By 2019, there were 2,003 indigent people of 495 households out of the total population of 5,866 people from 1,301 households in the town. 

 

“It took us an hour to walk to school but there are kindergartens and schools nearby now,” said Dan Zhengcuo, a 17-year-old student.

 

Sangjie Dongzhi, secretary of the Party Committee of Jianzhatan town, said that they set up Jianzha Grassland Treasure Husbandry Cooperative with 1,782 people joining in the form of joint-stock.

 

Last year, the per capita disposable income of those lifted out of poverty in the town reached 3,762 yuan. Permanent residents in the agricultural and pastoral areas of the town saw their per capita disposable income rising to 6,542 yuan, an increase of 7% year on year.