'For the people,' grassroots lawmakers speak up at 'two sessions'
The annual "two sessions," which gather thousands of national legislators and political advisors from across China, present an opportunity for grassroots voices to be heard on the national level.
Zhuang Yan, a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), prepares her suggestion in Beijing, capital of China, on March 6, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]
Zhuang Yan, another lawmaker from northeast China's Liaoning Province, tries to address pollution caused by de-icing salt.
Her home city of Anshan has long snow-covered winters. As a street cleaner, Zhuang experiences first-hand how de-icing salt can erode road surfaces, vehicles, and cause pollution to soil and underground water.
"I give my suggestion based on what I am most familiar with. That way I feel more confident," said Zhuang, in her orange uniform.
Zhuang has been a legislator since 2017. Ahead of her first trip to Beijing that year, she was excited and nervous at the same time.
Unlike many other legislators with more experience in public speaking, eloquence was not Zhuang's strength.
"I was afraid of people asking me questions," Zhuang said.
She received several training sessions afterwards, and learned how to conduct research on the de-icing salt's negative impact.
Zhuang later found using a new type of green de-icing salt could help improve the overall benefits, but the price is three to four times higher. "Government at all levels should spend money on addressing the issue," she wrote in her suggestion.
As her experience increased, she has become more confident and her speech delivery got better too. "People choose me as their representative, and I have to present their voice well," she said.
