hemes but is stamped by poverty. People living in villages have their own houses but they are usually small built of mud bricks with earthen floors and walls. Some villages have only one communal water tap and living conditions are extremely miserable. Little children and babies can be seen playing around with their bare bottoms hanging out of their slit open pants, diapers being a rare commodity.
             The 1980 one-child policy is proving to be effective as it has managed to stabilize the population number at 1,300,000,000. There is a possibility that in the near future having a second child will be allowed, especially if the first child is disabled or a girl. All couples who agree to have one child are given a TV and a financial bonus. In the event of having a second child, the TV is confiscated but, most importantly, the second child is deprived of all rights. It cannot be registered in government schools and hospitals; in addition, the mother, herself, is excluded from all pregnancy related medical services and loses her job together with the father (if they are both government employees). Thus, the costs of having another child are enormous and few are those who can afford it. As a result, many families
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