BTN wins UN award for housing program<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The state-owned Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) was
\nawarded the United Nations' "Habitat Scroll of Honor" yesterday
\nfor its home ownership loan program for poor people.<\/p>\n
The award from the UN Center for Human Settlement (UNCHS) was
\npresented by UN resident coordinator in Indonesia C. Jan Kamp to
\nBTN president Widigdo Sukarman at a ceremony attended by State
\nMinister for Public Housing Akbar Tandjung.<\/p>\n
The bank is one of five recipients of this year's award which
\nincludes individuals and institutions from the United Arab
\nEmirates, Senegal, Argentina and Turkey.<\/p>\n
C. Jan Kamp said that the bank's innovative planning, which
\nenables low incomes families to buy affordable land, build modest
\nhouses and start income generating activities to pay back the
\nloan, won deserved recognition.<\/p>\n
The loan called Triguna, or triple function credit, has been
\ndeveloped under the framework of a joint project between the
\nIndonesian government and the UN Development Program (UNDP).<\/p>\n
"This credit plan allows low income families, who are
\notherwise not considered credit worthy under normal banking
\nrules, to obtain housing loans," said Kamp.<\/p>\n
The loans, first begun in 1992, have been channeled to seven
\ncommunity groups and cooperatives scattered in Jakarta,
\nTangerang, Karawang and Bandung in West Java and Solo in Central
\nJava. A total of Rp 3.6 billion in funds has been lent through
\nBTN. Each loan is worth Rp 4.5 million and should be utilized by
\nmembers of the community or the cooperatives.<\/p>\n
Widigdo said the plan was launched after the bank found that
\nthe majority of the bank funds for housing construction had gone
\nto developers, though their efforts only account for a small
\nportion of all housing development in Indonesia. About 60 percent
\nof housing construction is done by consumers directly, he said.<\/p>\n
"The plan allows consumers to become developers of their own
\nhome," he added. (par)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/btn-wins-un-award-for-housing-program-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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