Empower the poor for better homes<\/p>\n
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A housing and community development specialist with the World
\nBank in Jakarta, Parwoto Sugianto, has called on the government
\nto create the right conditions for poor people to actively
\nimprove their environments.<\/p>\n
\"So far, the government has only focused on how to meet the
\nincreasing housing demands and has not empowered the community.
\nInstead, it gives developers a big advantage,\" he told The
\nJakarta Post recently.<\/p>\n
He claimed that no government in the world could meet the
\nhousing demands of poor people, in terms of quantity.<\/p>\n
Parwoto also said that in the 1990s the kredit triguna -- a
\ntriple-purpose loan to buy land, construct a house and help
\ngenerate income -- had been made available by the government.
\nSuch loans were aimed at empowering residents to direct their
\nefforts toward a better future.<\/p>\n
The loans were channeled to people living on riverbanks or in
\nslum areas. They were encouraged to actively participate in
\nimproving their existing houses and surrounding environments. The
\ngovernment also provided technical assistance so that proper
\ndrainage and sanitation facilities could be installed.<\/p>\n
\"I was a researcher at the then Ministry of Housing and I
\nwitnessed the process in several cities,\" Parwoto said. \"Some of
\nthe loans turned into bad-debts but most of them have been paid
\nback.\"<\/p>\n
Another community development approach was implemented in 2000
\nwhen Erna Witoelar was the minister of resettlement and regional
\ninfrastructure. She had visited a \"self-empowered\" housing area
\non Cipinang riverbank in Penas Halim, East Jakarta. The houses on
\nthe riverbank were mostly makeshift homes, the environment was
\nunhealthy. There were no proper sanitation facilities nor a dump
\nsite for garbage.<\/p>\n
However, over the years, with the assistance of a non-
\ngovernmental organization, the community turned the area into a
\nmore pleasant living environment, with proper sanitation and a
\ndump site. They also kept the riverbank as clean as possible and
\nplanted bamboo trees along the bank.<\/p>\n
Erna even announced that the improvement was significant
\nenough to make the houses the pilot project for a program called
\nCipinang Bening (Clear Cipinang). However, when she was replaced
\nthe program was halted.<\/p>\n
Until now, the Jakarta Administration has done little to take
\nup this cause.<\/p>\n
People living on riverbanks, or on land belonging to the state
\nor private sectors, have been evicted by public order officers.
\nThese evictions are a dark contrast to the community-based
\nhousing program whereby the administration provided technical
\nassistance and loans to improve slum areas.<\/p>\n
Parwoto said that community-based programs safeguarded against
\ncorruption, as the funds were directly handled by the people.<\/p>\n
\"It (community-based housing programs) are also low-cost
\ncompared to hiring developers to build housing complexes for poor
\npeople,\" he said. \"The government will only need to pay a small
\nfee to urban architects or consultants.\"<\/p>\n
He said that community-based approaches were the key to
\nalleviating poverty.<\/p>\n
\"Let the community decide how to use the loans, how to improve
\ntheir houses and environment,\" he concluded.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/empower-the-poor-for-better-homes-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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