Seeking the right answers

"They told me that the food subsidies that the school got at that time were insufficient to hire someone to work exclusively in the canteen and at the same time provide students with good meals," recalls Wu.

She says although the country started its "nutritional lunch project" by providing an allowance of 3 yuan ($0.45) a day per student to ensure quality food for students in compulsory education early in 2011, the funding was not enough for schools in remote places.

"So, because of a tight budget, some teachers were asked to cook in the school canteen in order to cut costs," says Wu, who later made a proposal at the two sessions in March 2014, suggesting that the government increase the free lunch project subsidies.

Now, most primary schools and junior high schools in Guizhou are able to afford a nutritious lunch that includes three dishes and a soup every day, according to Zou Lianke, director of the provincial education department.

Besides her raising the issues of people in need at the two sessions, Wu also keeps a close watch on how the problems are resolved after the annual event.

In 2015, she was the first to propose that heating systems should be installed in classrooms at high altitude in western China.

"In winter, students usually suffer from chilblains and terrible coughs due to the freezing and damp weather in western China," says Wu. "So, it's really imperative to address the problem."

The government of Shuicheng county in Liupanshui city was then inspired to take action the following year.

And at the start of last year, a central heating system was set up to cover 12 schools and kindergartens in the county's downtown area, benefiting over 22,300 students.

Also, to enable more students benefit from the heating project, Wu is now trying to persuade local officials to do a survey and expand the coverage of the project.

"If there's one less child suffering from the cold, I will feel a bit better," she says. "Making positive changes for the people and society is a source of happiness for me."