Central authorities have called for the better tracking of distressed migrant children — those who move from rural to urban areas with their parents — and stronger guarantees of equal access to public services, such as education and healthcare in cities, ahead of International Children's Day, observed annually on June 1.

The move comes as migrant children have surpassed left-behind children — minors who remain in rural hometowns while their parents work in cities — as the main group affected by China's internal migration. Official data from the 2020 national census showed that the number of migrant children age 17 and under stood at 71 million, nearly double the figure recorded in 2010, and exceeded the 66.9 million left-behind children nationwide.

The directives were outlined in a circular jointly released on Saturday by 27 central government departments, including the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Supreme People's Court and the Ministry of Education.

READ MORE: China allocates 45.8b yuan to support preschool education

The document described the renewed effort to identify and assist distressed migrant and left-behind children as part of broader measures to build a child-friendly society.

According to the circular, local authorities are required to carry out "precise screening, accurate filing and targeted services" for millions of vulnerable children.

By September, existing data must be cross-checked with records from education, health and public security authorities, the circular said. Any missing information will trigger door-to-door visits by village-level child welfare workers.

Local civil affairs departments must ensure that these workers dynamically register newly identified migrant and left-behind children through routine visits and public feedback mechanisms. Provinces with a large population of such children should prioritize registration during peak migration periods, such as the spring job-hunting season and school holidays, to avoid omissions.

Authorities are also required to establish key care files for children facing the greatest hardships, including those lacking access to education, healthcare or proper guardianship, and to update the records regularly based on home visits.

The directive mandates equal access to public services for migrant children, including school enrollment based on residency permits and improved cross-regional healthcare coordination.

ALSO READ: China's highest court issues new guideline to enhance legal protections for minors

For left-behind children, the focus will be on addressing guardianship gaps, preventing accidents and abuse, and providing mental health support.

In line with a new risk response mechanism, frontline workers such as teachers and doctors are required to report signs of neglect or abuse.

In cases involving violence or other emergencies, response protocols involving public security authorities, healthcare providers and local women's federations will be activated.

"Local authorities and relevant departments must strengthen supervision and guidance for work involving these two groups of children," the circular said, warning that localities and departments showing weak implementation will face closer oversight.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs will incorporate the dynamic case management system into future performance evaluations, the circular added.

Contact the writers at lilei@chinadaily.com.cn