BEIJING — China will adopt a strict evaluation system on poverty relief work, an official said on Feb 24.

Ou Qingping, deputy head of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, at a news conference warned against “formalism” in poverty-relief work, vowing punishment for those who were dishonest in the process.

Certain local officials have been found to pass tasks on to lower levels regardless of difficulties, with some reporting inaccurate numbers on poverty reduction.

Ou said the government would carry out targeted checks on local government efforts in 22 provincial-level regions in central and western China, areas which have the highest concentration of poverty in the country.

The leading group will also increase inspections on the use of poverty reduction funds, and progress on the relocation of those in poverty.

Despite China’s steady economic growth in recent decades, 45 million people still live in poverty, many in areas without roads, clean drinking water, or power.

Poverty relief is high on China’s 2016-2020 agenda, with the government vowing to eradicate poverty by 2020.

As part of its poverty alleviation drive, China plans to relocate 3.4 million people from poverty-stricken communities to more developed areas this year.