Govt set to parcel out cheap rice<\/p>\n
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government plans to distribute subsidized rice on Friday in
\nfour of Jakarta's five municipalities, as part of a program to
\noffset recent fuel price and utility charge increases.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Yusuf Kalla said on
\nThursday the Jakarta Logistics Depot would distribute tons of
\nrice to municipal offices in Central Jakarta, West Jakarta, East
\nJakarta and North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Each of the municipalities will then distribute the rice to
\nthe subdistricts where the needy reside,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said South Jakarta did not require additional subsidized
\nrice because a regular program funded by the state budget covered
\nthe municipality's needs.<\/p>\n
Poor residents in possession of a family card or an identity
\ncard issued by the Jakarta administration will be allowed to
\npurchased the subsidized rice for Rp 1,000 (about 11 US cents)
\nper kilogram, much cheaper than the usual market price of between
\nRp 2,600 and Rp 3,500 per kilogram.<\/p>\n
Those without such a proper identity card, however, will be
\nunable to benefit from the program.<\/p>\n
According to data gathered in 2002 by the Urban Poor
\nConsortium about 500,000 people, in Jakarta were classified as
\npoor. Most of these people did not possess a Jakarta ID card.<\/p>\n
The subsidized rice program, similar to one last year, is
\nbeing funded by the reductions in the government's fuel,
\ntelephone and electricity subsidies. The government is using Rp
\n4.43 trillion from the reduced subsidies to ease the burden on
\nthe poor from the resulting price hikes.<\/p>\n
However, activists say many similar programs last year failed
\nto reach the correct people. They are demanding a thorough
\nevaluation of these programs.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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