Funds for labor-intensive projects total Rp 25.14b<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Official funds to finance labor-intensive
\nprojects, which will be conducted in the city after the start of
\nthe 1998\/1999 fiscal year on April 1, total Rp 25.14 billion, an
\nofficial said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Deputy Governor of Welfare Affairs Djailani said Rp 8 billion
\nof the total would be set aside from the 1998\/1999 city budget
\nand the other Rp 17.14 billion from the National Development
\nPlanning Board (Bappenas) as stated in the 1998\/1999 state
\nbudget.<\/p>\n
\"These labor-intensive projects will become a regular program,
\nnot just a pilot program like the one we've run over the past two
\nmonths.\"<\/p>\n
He said Rp 1.6 billion of the city budget contribution had
\nbeen allocated for female workers.<\/p>\n
Besides the official funding, the city also received donations
\nfrom private companies to finance the projects.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso has repeatedly said that he would make use
\nof the Rp 2.4 billion donation from Citra Group, owned by
\nPresident Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti Hardijanti Rukmana.<\/p>\n
\"We will use any existing funds, including the Rp 2.4 billion
\nfrom Citra, to continue these labor-intensive projects after the
\npilot program is completed,\" the governor said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Bappenas has recently disbursed another Rp 2 billion in
\naddition to the initial Rp 4.25 billion for the city's program of
\nlabor-intensive projects.<\/p>\n
Djailani said the Rp 2 billion fund had been distributed among
\nthe city's five mayoralties: Rp 300 million to Central Jakarta,
\nRp 300 million to East Jakarta, Rp 500 million each to West and
\nNorth Jakarta and Rp 400 million to South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
With the additional fund, between 9,000 and 10,000 workers can
\nbe employed on labor-intensive projects every day in each of the
\nfive mayoralties, up from 1,275 workers previously.<\/p>\n
Djailani reiterated that the permanent labor-intensive program
\nwould be different from the pilot program.<\/p>\n
\"The city has to be creative and innovative. We can't stick
\nonly to programs like cleaning gutters or sweeping garbage
\nbecause gradually we will run out of projects to work on.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, the municipality is currently preparing a new form
\nof labor-intensive project, one that is productive and meaningful
\nto the people.\"<\/p>\n
The arrangement will be worked out by a special team involving
\nsocial experts and representatives of other related agencies, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
When asked about the huge amount of funds allocated in Jakarta
\n(Rp 25.14 billion) compared to other provinces, Djailani said
\nthat it was standard procedure.<\/p>\n
\"Jakarta as the capital of this country has been burdened with
\ncomplex social and economical problems. The unemployment rate (in
\nnormal economic conditions) here can reach up to 500,000 people
\nper year.<\/p>\n
\"So imagine Jakarta's condition now. We are being hit hardest
\nby the monetary crisis. No wonder we have a bigger fund ...
\nbecause the rate of unemployment is very high.\"<\/p>\n
The government has allocated Rp 1.8 trillion in the 1998\/1999
\nstate budget for labor-intensive projects in a bid to cope with
\nthe unemployment disasters which have hit the country over the
\npast eight months.<\/p>\n
The national program concentrates on reforestation, urban and
\nrural sectors and drought-hit regencies, mainly in Irian Jaya.
\n(edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/funds-for-labor-intensive-projects-total-rp-2514b-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}