People must not be left behind

That all these bus attacks seem to have been carried out because the perpetrators felt aggrieved at their unfair treatment is cause for both concern and reflection. It is true that during the period of the country's transformation, numerous social problems and contradictions have emerged and the opportunities presented to people have not always been equal.

But it is also true that the social malaises and inequality that have accumulated over the past decades cannot be resolved overnight, especially since there are entrenched interests obstructing change. The leadership's unprecedented campaign to fight corruption shows its unwavering determination to face up to and resolve the problems in society.

However, no society will tolerate such acts of violence no matter what personal "grievances" or "unfairness" a person feels they have been subject to. One person's adversity does not endow him or her with a right to deprive other people the right to live. A sense of helplessness does not justify murder.

Everyone can see the tangible progresses the country has achieved and its ongoing efforts to eradicate the sources of social inequality. In recent years, the country has taken practical measures to narrow the wealth gap, such as continuous efforts by local governments to raise residents' minimum incomes and tangible measures to set up an all-inclusive social security and healthcare network. Many local governments across the country have also included migrant workers into the local government-subsidized housing system that was previously only open to urban residents with hukou, or permanent household registration certificates, and integrated their children into the local educational system. All these measures, together with others, have helped promote a "sense of de-marginalization" among migrant workers and other disadvantaged groups and increased their sense of inclusion as members of our big family.

However, the frequent occurrence of such incidents should sound the warning that we still need to pay more attention to our social assistance mechanisms and ensure that the necessary channels are in place so that people have a genuine means to air their grievances and have unfair decisions changed.

At grassroots levels, there should be better social care for migrant workers in urban areas so that they can find solace in troubled times, if not a wider community with which they can identify.

The author is a senior writer with China Daily. wuyixue@chinadaily.com.cn