Shen Jilan, China’s longest-serving lawmaker and a recipient of the Medal of the Republic, died at 91 on Sunday in Changzhi, north China’s Shanxi Province, arousing a nation-wide online mourning for her lifetime contribution to the nation.
Shen had been promoting Chinese women’s right to work throughout her tenure as the only National People’s Congress (NPC) deputy in China who had served at all 13 previous NPC sessions since 1954.
In 1953, women in Xigou Village had the same pay as men under Shen’s proposal of “equal pay for equal work” for men and women, which was written in China’s first Constitution during the first session of the NPC in 1954.
This was a benchmark for the development of China’s rural areas and women’s rights.
Before that, there were rules about two women being equal to one man on the excuse that women had fewer skills. However, I thought otherwise, for I am as much a human being as you are. We women then worked to prove that we were no worse than men,” recalled Shen, adding that the issue of gender equality is what brought her to the stage of politics.
Under Shen’s guidance, Xigou Village has become an eco-friendly site with booming local tourism and manufacturing.
In her 66 years of experience as an NPC deputy, Shen’s proposals touched upon various things, from agriculture, rural, and farmer issues to education, transportation, and water conservancy construction.
Last September, Shen was awarded the Medal of the Republic, the highest state honor, ahead of the 70th founding anniversary of the PRC for her significant contributions to the country.
Netizens from around the country expressed their condolences on the passing of Shen, who witnessed and practiced the principle of “people being the masters of the country” during her lifetime. (by Miao)
