Disadvantaged regions need govt attention<\/p>\n
Sigit Pinardi, Antara News Agency\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
A middle-aged woman was seen sobbing as Syaifullah Yusuf, the
\nState Minister for the Development of Disadvantaged Regions,
\nnoticed her. While wiping her tears, the woman, a teacher, shared
\nwith the minister the sorry state of her school. She showed the
\nminister what a decrepit state the Mekarsari II elementary school
\nbuilding was in. The classroom ceiling had fallen down in places,
\nwhile the number of chairs was never enough, meaning two students
\nper chair.<\/p>\n
After the tour of the deteriorating education facility, Itje
\nFarida, the teacher, then asked the minister to he help with the
\nrenovation of the building so that the students could study.
\n\"Please, lend us a hand,\" begged Farida, whose school is located
\nabout 40 kilometers north of Garut, which is one of some 199
\ndisadvantaged regions in the country.<\/p>\n
In front of the minister, Farida also complained that
\nelectricity had not reached some residents while road conditions
\nin Mekarsari village were deplorable. \"It's embarrassing that we
\nhave to ask for so much. But, I don't know what else to say,\"
\nsaid Farida.<\/p>\n
Such scenes have become familiar for Syaifullah since he was
\nappointed as the State Minister for the Development of
\nDisadvantaged Regions last year. According to data at his
\nministry, 199 regencies out of total some 400 regencies and
\nmunicipalities across the nation are disadvantaged regions.<\/p>\n
In order to spur development in the disadvantaged regions,
\nSyaifullah had been coordinating measures with other ministries.<\/p>\n
\"We collect data on where the disadvantaged regions are
\nlocated and conduct studies to collect data on what type of
\ndevelopment should take place. We then send the data to related
\nministries in order for them carry out development programs
\npertaining to their respective sectors,\" explained Syaifullah.<\/p>\n
In order to ensure the data in the studies is valid, the
\nminister has often gone to the respective regions in order to
\ncheck the reliability. The minister does not only check the
\nvalidity of the data during his visit, but also helps coordinate
\ndevelopment with the related government agencies or ministries,
\nsuch as the Ministry of Public Works or the Manpower Ministry.<\/p>\n
He has often stated that promoting development in the
\ndisadvantaged regions was not an easy job. It requires hard work,
\npeople's participation and of course, money.<\/p>\n
\"From a study conducted by the National Development Planning
\nBody (Bappenas), Rp 20 trillion (US$2.1 billion) is needed to for
\ndevelopment in disadvantaged regions. Unfortunately, the
\ngovernment does not have much money,\" said Syaifullah.<\/p>\n
Although he understood that the government lacked the money,
\nSyaifullah said that he was making efforts to get the budget
\nallocation increased.<\/p>\n
\"We have proposed the disbursement of Rp 250 million for each
\ndisadvantaged village in the 2005 Budget Revision, which is set
\nto be approved by the House of Representatives,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Due to the lack of funding, not all villages will receive the
\nmoney this year. Out of over 30,000 disadvantaged villages, there
\nwill be only 12,000 villages that receive any money this year, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Responding to the minister's statement, Garut Regent Agus
\nSupriadi said that at first, he was concerned that his regency
\nwas placed on the list of disadvantaged regions. However, later
\non, he learned that having been categorized as a disadvantaged
\nregion was a blessing in disguise for the region.<\/p>\n
Having been named a disadvantaged region, Garut's development
\nwill be given priority by the government.<\/p>\n
\"In addition, it has encouraged us to work harder in order for
\nGarut to be more prosperous,\" said Agus.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/disadvantaged-regions-need-govt-attention-1447893297",
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