34 SOCIAL SCIENTIST leadership of the CPC. However, the channelization of youth energies after liberation has been one of the main preoccupations of the GPC. In fact, it is in this sphere that the party faced and is still facing serious problems since it is this section of the population that has played a key role in economic development in China. More than 600 millions out of China's total population of 900 millions were born after 1949.1 Thus, the bulk of the population either falls in the working age group or is about to enter this age group (15 to 56 years). According to estimates given in the CIA Handbook of Economic Indicators, in 1975, around 13 percent of the children was less than four years old, 25 percent was in the age-group of 5 to 14 years, 20 percent in the age group of 15-24 years and 36 percent in the age group of 25-59. Only 6 percent was above 60 years. Thus, in 1976, about 56 percent of the Chinese population was in the working age group.3 In addition, the Chinese government was confronted with the gigantic task of providing employment to 12 to 20 million new entrants every year. It has been estimated that since 1949 at least 200 million fresh jobs were needed to absorb this increasing work force.3 Building of Industrial Base The CPG inherited a poor and backward economy from the Kuomintang (KMT), It was semi-feudal in character with four-fifths of the population depending on agriculture, out of which 10 percent occupied 70 percent of the total agricultural land. The industrial sector was very small and confined to the coastal areas only. The GPC, after attaining control of the country adopted the Soviet model of development. Accordingly, the foundation of a comprehensive industrial structure was sought to be laid during the first five-year plan. Over 50 percent of the state funds was allocated to capital goods industries, whereas only 6.2 percent of the state funds was allocated to agriculture. Besides, the Soviet Union volunteered to provide 300 modern industrial plants to China during 1953-1967. She also promised to provide educational facilities to Chinese students in the Soviet Union. The broadening of the industrial base required a large number of scientists, technicians and educated youth. For example, the ministry of heavy industry alone needed not lesss than 6.000 graduates in engineering within five years and the ministry of fuel 660 graduates in geology and mining and the ministry of forestry and land reclamation 100 persons in one year.4 But in 1949, the total number of students enrolled in technical institutes was 117,000. In