Anti-poverty program launched for least-developed areas<\/p>\n
By Johannes Simbolon<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The quietness of Tidung, a coral island in the
\nSeribu Island chain, was broken last Sunday by the arrival of
\nGovernor Surjadi Soedirdja and entourage, who came to launch the
\nso-called \"Inpres Desa Tertinggal\" (Presidential Instructions on
\nLeast Developed Areas).<\/p>\n
The scheme, which is more popularly known as \"IDT\", is the
\nlatest bid by the government to raise the standard of living of
\nthe country's poor.<\/p>\n
The day before more than 100 people, including municipal
\nofficials and journalists, had arrived to cover the event.<\/p>\n
The islanders were clearly amazed at seeing such a big group
\nof guests, although they all were well aware that Surjadi would
\ncome for a visit, and some famous entertainers from Jakarta would
\nperform on the eve of the governor's arrival. But some of them
\nremained at a loss about the purpose of the governor's visit.<\/p>\n
\"IDT? No, I don't know. The subdistrict chief must know that.
\nYou may ask him,\" said confused Muhdar, a fisherman, when queried
\nby reporters.<\/p>\n
Tidung island is one of the 11 least developed subdistricts in
\nJakarta which are to receive IDT funds.<\/p>\n
Of the 11, eight are located in North Jakarta, including Kamal
\nMuara, Kapuk Muara, Kalibaru, Cilincing, Kelapa Island, Panggang
\nIsland, Untung Jawa Island and Tidung Island, while the rest are
\nGalur in Central Jakarta, Kamal and Tegal Alur in West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Each subdistrict has its own character and level of poverty.
\nThe 4,000 Tidung residents, for example, barely give the
\nimpression that they are really destitute. Each household has a
\nTV set, most of these color, with the exception of the northern
\npart of the 1.75 kilometer-square island where some fishermen
\nlive miserably in houses made of thatched bamboo and dirt floors.<\/p>\n
Still, the most recent study reveals there are 343 poor
\nfamilies (36 percent) on Tidung island, compared to 216 families
\n(78 percent) in Untung Jawa island, which is the poorest area in
\nthe Seribu Islands chain, north of Jakarta Bay.<\/p>\n
The study further revealed an average Seribu Islands'
\nhousewife has only Rp 7,000 (US$3.30) each month to buy food and
\nclothes for her family. The families must spend Rp 7,500 ($3.40)
\nper month simply to finance the schooling of their high-school
\nage children.<\/p>\n
Ferry<\/p>\n
Samaun Hambali, a fisherman, blames the poverty of the
\nislanders, many of them fishermen, on the absence of a regular
\nferry to take them to Jakarta, forcing them to sell their fish to
\nTangerang at a lower price. The absence of phones is another
\nproblem faced by the islanders in contacting the fish brokers
\nover the sea for transactions.<\/p>\n
Yet, not all the poor in the island are aware of their poverty
\nand point out the causes as Hambali does. The long history of the
\npoor makes them blind to their own situation, making it difficult
\nto specify their pains and needs alike. Instead of focusing on
\nthe core problem, such as poverty, they turn their eyes to
\nsuperficial and irrelevant matters.<\/p>\n
Muhammad Latief, for instance, tells Governor Surjadi that he
\nis concerned about the fact that Tidung island is getting smaller
\nunder the unending assault of the sea. Another resident wants the
\ngovernor to take their children for a holiday at Ancol Dreamland
\nfor free for one or two days.<\/p>\n
Decentralization<\/p>\n
With the population uncertain of its own needs, how can the
\nIDT program be a success?<\/p>\n
According to the IDT guideline, each subdistrict receives Rp
\n20 million ($9,315). A subdistrict is divided into four or five
\ngroups with between 20 and 30 families in each. The IDT money is
\nevenly distributed to each group as a loan without interest,
\nmeaning each group receives between Rp 4 and 5 million. Each
\ngroup is obliged to pay the loan back in a year at the longest,
\nwith the money then lent to an other group.<\/p>\n
Several mentors are hired by the government to guide each of
\nthe groups on how to properly use the money and manage the
\nrepayment of the loan.<\/p>\n
Governor Surjadi said the mentors must be knowledgeable about
\nthe culture of the group to be guided, and above all they should
\nbe \"honest, social-minded, philanthropic and have no vested
\ninterest.\" Otherwise they will rob the poor of the funds instead
\nof helping them.<\/p>\n
Poernomo Subagyo, Tidung island subdistrict chief, said the
\nmentors must be high school graduates at a minimum, a requirement
\nwhich is difficult to meet as most adult residents are elementary
\nschool drop-outs.<\/p>\n
Anxiety and pessimism prevail. How and where can we find
\nhonest, philanthropic and conscientious persons among
\ngovernmental officials, in view of the rampant abuse of power and
\ncorruption prevailing in almost all state-run institutions
\nnowadays.<\/p>\n
\"The program is indeed not promising,\" said Kastorius Sinaga,
\nan expert from the University of Indonesia. \"But the government
\nhas done something which was unprecedented. For the first time,
\nthey let the poor think independently about their needs and
\nmanage the money the government gives to them by themselves. This
\nis called decentralization. In the past, the government gave the
\nmoney, made the planning, and determined what the poor needed,\"<\/p>\n
Politically, the IDT program is good, even though the road
\nlying ahead is long, arduous, winding and rugged.<\/p>\n
But if this humanitarian program fails, it seems that it will
\nnot leave the people to disappointed, because they long ago got
\nused to this feeling. They will easily forget the dream of
\nbecoming free from poverty, a dream they are unfamiliar with.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/anti-poverty-program-launched-for-least-developed-areas-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}