Puneet Varma (Editor)

Shidu (parents)

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Shidu (Chinese: 失独; pinyin: shīdú) is a phenomenon denoting the loss of a parent's only child. The parents who have lost their only child are known as shidu fumu (失独父母) in China.

As a result of the one-child policy, the number of shidu parents is expected to increase in China over the coming years. According to figures from the Ministry of Health, there have been at least one million families who lost their only child since the implementation of the one-child policy to the end of 2010 and it is expected to rise with 76.000 per year. In a society where parents rely on their children for looking after them in old age, this phenomenon may have devastating effects to many shidu parents. Many shidu parents suffer from psychological problems and financial difficulties after losing their only child.

Notable people, such as Nobel laureate Mo Yan, have spoken out for more support to those who have lost their only child. In 2002, the National People's Congress put into law that local governments must "provide necessary assistance" to shidu parents if they do not adopt or give birth to another child. In 2007, the central government set a monthly compensation of minimum $16 per parent in ten provinces and cities. Since a 2012 policy, families were entitled to a monthly compensation of minimum 135 yuan ($22) per parent. On 26 December 2013, the National Health and Family Planning Commission increased the monthly compensation for urban households to a minimum of 340 yuan ($56) per parent and for rural households to a minimum of 170 yuan ($28) per parent, applicable if the woman is at least 49 years old. The actual amount of compensation may also be higher depending on provincial and local policies.

Incidents like the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, Boston Marathon bombings or the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappearance have highlighted the tremendous impact that this phenomenon has.

In May 2010, the 60-year-old shidu parent Sheng Hailin became China's oldest person to give birth, namely to twin girls through IVF.

References

Shidu (parents) Wikipedia