Govt to boost transmigration<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Transmigration plans to open a
\nnew directorate whose task will be to find ways of encouraging
\nthe traditionally reluctant to move people in Java to resettle.<\/p>\n
Minister of Transmigration Siswono Yudohusodo said the
\nproposal to create a separate directorate for the job currently
\nhandled by the Directorate for Mobilizing and Supervision has
\nalready been approved by the State Minister of Administrative
\nReforms T.B. Silalahi, Antara reported yesterday.<\/p>\n
The new directorate is expected to promote the self-
\nsponsored\/self reliant transmigration program, particularly among
\nthe people of Java, Siswono said.<\/p>\n
One of the directorate's jobs will be to carry out social
\nengineering so that the Javanese and Sundanese will become even
\nmore adventurous than the Minangkabau and Bugis people, he said,
\nreferring to the West Sumatra and South Sulawesi ethnic groups
\nknown for their knack at venturing to places far from their
\nhomelands.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Transmigration is responsible for carrying out
\nthe government's ambitious program of resettling as many people
\nas possible from overcrowded Java and Bali to the other islands
\nin the Indonesian archipelago.<\/p>\n
The habit of the Javanese and Sundanese to stay in the places
\nthey were born has been one of the chief obstacles to the success
\nof the program. Many Javanese transmigrants, not able to cope
\nwith the harsh conditions of the new frontiers, have returned to
\ntheir former homes to try to once again eke out a meager living.<\/p>\n
Siswono is confident that changing attitudes through social
\nengineering is not impossible.<\/p>\n
He likened the challenge to the government's launching of the
\nnational family planning program in 1969, when the idea was
\nwidely scoffed.<\/p>\n
The Secretary-General of Transmigration, Soemarsidik,
\nexplained that the Directorate for Mobilization and Supervision
\nwill be broken into two parts: one for the supervision of the
\nspread of the population and the other for community development.<\/p>\n
The changes will be effected in August, he said.<\/p>\n
Soemarsidik disclosed that the government is currently
\npreparing a new bill on transmigration to replace the current law
\nabout the resettlement program. The bill is now at the State
\nSecretariat for a final review before it is presented to the
\nHouse of Representatives.<\/p>\n
The bill on transmigration emphasizes regional development and
\nthe creation of new economic growth centers as a way of
\ncomplementing the resettlement program.<\/p>\n
It also emphasizes the need to diversify the occupational
\nbases of the settlers away from rice farming. The government in
\nrecent years has developed transmigration programs related to the
\nopening of fisheries, forestry estates, and plantations in the
\nnew settlement areas.<\/p>\n
The bill proposes to motivate more self-reliant transmigrants,
\nwho are less dependent on government handouts and other
\nfacilities. It also seeks to bolster the participation of the
\nprivate business sector in the transmigration programs,
\nSoemarsidik said. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-to-boost-transmigration-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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