The Chinese Government earmarked 87.5 billion yuan ($14 billion) in subsistence allowances for the needy in cities and the countryside in 2012, up 16.8 percent year on year, said the Ministry of Finance.

Around 44.6 billion yuan ($7.15 billion) was allocated to help 5.6 million rural families renovate dilapidated homes last year, 163.7 percent higher than that in 2011.

The Chinese Government also spent 2 billion yuan ($320 million) in aiding vagrants and beggars, doubling the amount of 2011.

Meanwhile, 11.6 billion yuan ($1.86 billion) was granted in relief funds for 75 million people affected by natural disasters and 2.4 billion yuan ($385 million) was allocated to provide support for more than 600,000 orphans, according to the ministry.