The government of southwest China's Sichuan Province plans to help 470,000 Tibetan herds people in the region to settle down in permanent brick houses in the next four years.

The provincial government will input 5 billion yuan (US$735 million) into the project to build new houses and villages as well as primary schools, clinics, offices and other public service infrastructure in the villages.

Local authorities will also invite industrial businesses to design and manufacture special tents and other living products tailored to the needs of high and cold areas for the herds people, in a bid to provide a "modern life" in their nomadic life, according to a provincial government meeting held on Friday.

Statistics show that among the total 533,000 herds people in Sichuan, 219,000 still have no fixed residences and 254,000 are living in shanty houses.

Similar housing projects have also been carried out in the neighboring Tibet Autonomous Region and northwestern provinces of Qinghai and Gansu, in a hope to improve the living conditions and public services for the nomadic Tibetan communities.

(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2008)