JP\/3\/IBUKOTA\/set lead 2 lines, 10 cols,, crosshead 12 MB<\/p>\n
Ethnic heterogeneity poses problems for the city<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Ethnic heterogeneity, spurred on by rural-to-
\nurban migration, leaves the city with a particular problem in
\ncarrying out the Least Developed Village Development (IDT)
\nProgram.<\/p>\n
\"The main objective of most people coming here is only to look
\nfor a job or make money. Their utmost concern is sending home the
\nmoney they earn to help their families in their home villages,\"
\nGovernor Surjadi Soedirdja said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Surjadi added that, \"This makes them narrow-minded. They have
\nno intentions of creating a healthy living environment.\"<\/p>\n
The IDT program was launched this year by the national
\ngovernment throughout the country's 27 provinces, including
\nJakarta, to achieve even development across the country.<\/p>\n
Results of a recent survey conducted by the City Development
\nPlanning Board shows that most migrants spend only 30 percent of
\ntheir income in the city, while the rest is sent to their
\nfamilies in their hometowns.<\/p>\n
Surjadi apparently referred to low-income people who live in
\nslum areas or kampongs, the slums where many poor migrants live
\nin ramshackle houses.<\/p>\n
The governor also said that most migrants living in the city
\ndo not have a good sense of belonging, let alone sense of
\nresponsibility.<\/p>\n
According to Surjadi, such attitudes are reflected in the way
\nmigrants respond to the Mohammad Husni Thamrin (MHT) kampong
\nimprovement project. This is a project designed to help kampong
\ninhabitants by building better roads and installing electric and
\nwater facilities.<\/p>\n
However, after they have their kampongs improved many of them
\nsell or pawn the houses to housing brokers at cheap prices. Then
\nthey move to other locations to create poorly equipped, kampong
\nslums, Surjadi said.<\/p>\n
He said that if this continues again and again, the problem
\nwould become a vicious cycle of wasted government resources and
\nland speculation.<\/p>\n
The governor said that, as a result, the IDT program must
\nfocus on how to change the mentality of migrants and teach them
\nhow to work on their own. Surjadi added that this task is indeed
\nvery difficult to implement.<\/p>\n
\"At present, the city administration is trying to get patrons
\nto help the poor start their own business.\"<\/p>\n
The head of the City Development Planning Board, Eri
\nChayaridipura, said helping the city's poor people through the
\nIDT program is difficult.<\/p>\n
\"Most city residents are migrants. Although they have been in
\nJakarta for 25 years, their hearts and minds are not here but in
\ntheir hometowns. It takes a long time to develop a feeling of
\npride in where they are,\" Eri said.<\/p>\n
According to him, the city administration has prepared a fund
\nof Rp 10 billion to support the IDT program in the city's 11
\nleast developed subdistricts. This is in the hope that they
\nsucceed in using the fund as working capital to start their
\nbusiness.<\/p>\n
Through the IDT program, each poor subdistrict is entitled to
\nRp 20 million (US$9,520) per annum.<\/p>\n
The 11 poor subdistricts include Galur in Central Jakarta,
\nKamal and Tegal Alur in West Jakarta, Cilincing, Kali Baru, Kapuk
\nMuara, Kamal Muara subdistricts and four others in the Seribu
\nIslands in North Jakarta. (06)<\/p>",
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