Gianyar regency cuts through red tape<\/p>\n
By William Sommers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Lately the Jakarta Post has been focusing on
\nways to reduce corruption in the Indonesian government.<\/p>\n
Suggestions from editorial writers, pundits and commentators
\ninclude social control, modernized bureaucracy, better pay, more
\naccountability and even an independent supervisory body.<\/p>\n
There is one common thread: the need for transparency in
\ngovernment from national policy formation down to the everyday
\nactions affecting millions of citizens.<\/p>\n
But there's no need to worry because the solution is alive and
\nflourishing right here in Indonesia. A transparent, service-
\noriented system is operating day-in and day-out, affecting
\nthousands of ordinary citizens in Gianyar regency in Bali.<\/p>\n
Upon taking office four years ago, the Gianyar regency found
\nthat the biggest complaint among citizens was their inability to
\npenetrate the red tape which effectively strangled applications
\nfor permits, registrations and approvals required by the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Citizens spent countless hours getting hammered by the
\nbureaucrats while trying to penetrate the maze of endless
\nofficial approvals. Coordination between departments was non-
\nexistent so people had to either bridge the gap themselves or, in
\ntotal frustration, forget about the whole thing.<\/p>\n
The regency knew a substantial turnabout was needed. Charged
\nwith solving the problem, the regency administration proposed a
\n"one-stop permit system."<\/p>\n
The system, which began in November 1994 and was revised with
\nexperience, is now a model of transparency, efficiency and --
\nmost of all -- responsiveness. The applying citizen is no longer
\nviewed as a nuisance but an important customer.<\/p>\n
The new system includes eight key permits: land use, building
\nconstruction, business, commercial and industrial operations,
\npersonal identification cards, land title certificates and birth
\ncertificates. The regency has gathered all the permitting
\nauthorities under one roof where citizens, upon lodging their
\napplication, need do no more. All the interaction is done by the
\nregency employees operating out of Gianyar's Integrated Services
\nUnit.<\/p>\n
Now an applicant enters a fully transparent operation where
\nall the rules and requirements, the approval system, the costs
\nand the waiting time are posted in large print on the wall,
\nsummarized in an excellent, well written citizen guide and
\nrepeated again at each of the eight permitting counters.<\/p>\n
No price negotiations for getting things done quickly -- or
\neven at all -- no unknown rules or procedures pop up when you
\nleast expect it and nobody looks down on you.<\/p>\n
The unit is housed in one building, divided into eight clearly
\nmarked counters where courteous government officers give advice
\nand help with applications. When the document is filed they tell
\nyou how long it will take and how much it will cost.<\/p>\n
A separate information desk provides details and distributes
\ncopies of the guide for citizens. A large waiting room has
\ncomfortable seats for applicants, a public telephone, newspapers
\nand a clean lavatory.<\/p>\n
Applications are entered into a computer network which
\nconnects the central approving agencies and the regency's seven
\nsubdistricts. Citizens can check the disposition of their
\napplications while the Unit's coordinator can review applications
\nto identify possible problems or noncompliance with the posted
\ntime schedule.<\/p>\n
The regency operates five mobile units which shuttle between
\nthe central office and the subdistricts, bringing applications
\nand documentation from the subdistrict office to the center for
\nprocessing. The mobile units also deliver the approved permits
\ndirectly to the citizen and collect the posted fees -- and no
\ntipping, please.<\/p>\n
The results are remarkable both in numbers and in compliance.
\nGeneral applications are up by 22 percent and difficult
\napplications like building construction and land title have
\nincreased by 274 percent and 69 percent respectively.<\/p>\n
People have more faith in the system and are applying for
\ntheir permits where in the past they avoided the frustration by
\nnot applying at all.<\/p>\n
These improvements were made without outside consultants or
\nexternal loans. The personnel were not increased but reassigned
\nto more productive tasks. The experts were from Gianyar, the
\nfunds came from the regency and the provincial government. The
\nbenefits went to the people.<\/p>\n
Academics, consultants, editorial writers and pundits need
\nlook no further, Gianyar is the place to start. Imagine if these
\nimprovements were put in place in Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, Ujung
\nPandang, Yogyakarta, Bandung and in the central government.<\/p>\n
Why not? Gianyar didn't do it with mirrors or with miracles.
\nIt applied common sense, a touch of political will and evident
\ncourage to solve a problem that has made a significant difference
\nin the way Gianyar operates. If its lead is followed, getting a
\ntransparent, responsive Indonesian government into the 21st
\ncentury will be a piece of cake.<\/p>\n
The writer is a Resident Representative for Research Triangle
\nInstitute, Indonesia.<\/p>",
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