The government will start managing poorly administered civil charity organizations in order to better safeguard the rights of orphans and abandoned children, a civil minister said Wednesday.

Li Liguo, Minister of Civil Affairs, said at a press conference that civil authorities will also strengthen management and oversight for qualified civil charity organizations and individuals that are willing to continue to adopt orphans and abandoned children, as well as provide services to them.

Seven people, including six children, died in a fire that ripped through a privately-run foster home in January in central China's Henan Province. The incident highlighted the country's lack of government-funded orphanages and foster homes.

Li said adoption should be conducted within a legal framework to ensure that the rights of children are protected.

Figures released by the ministry indicate that China has about 615,000 orphans. Just 109,000 of them live in government-funded agencies, while the rest are cared for by relatives or private orphanages.

(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2013)