Kalibaru poor families want more aid<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Forty poor families living in Kalibaru
\nsubdistrict in North Jakarta asked the government over the
\nweekend to provide them with more financial aid to develop their
\nsmall businesses.<\/p>\n
Asikin, a head of the neighborhood community, said that his
\ngroup has difficulties developing and marketing their products,
\nparticularly pillows, owing to a dearth of capital.<\/p>\n
He said he has received Rp 400,000 (US$173.91) in aid from his
\nsubdistrict through the least-developed villages aid scheme
\n(IDT).<\/p>\n
The IDT scheme was first introduced by the government in 1993
\nin an effort to eradicate poverty. The government provides Rp 20
\nmillion in no-interest loans for the residents living in each
\nvillage considered under-developed.<\/p>\n
\"I have paid back the aid to the government. I have also
\nproposed that the head of the subdistrict should another Rp 1.5
\nmillion in aid,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He makes the pillows from cloths, buying the textiles from a
\ngarment factory in Kawasan Berikat Nusantara bonded zone, in
\nCakung.<\/p>\n
The father of five children sells the pillows locally. \"We
\nsell directly to consumers in order to get back the capital
\nquickly,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Asikin said he and his members, who are mostly small-scale
\ntraders, food vendors and fishermen have received aid amounting
\nto an average of between Rp 100,000 and Rp 500,000.<\/p>\n
He said his group received a letter of appreciation plus Rp 2
\nmillion in cash from President Soeharto on Jan.10 for its second
\nbest-community development.<\/p>\n
He said the group is now breeding fresh-water fish, using the
\ncash prize from the President as the capital.<\/p>\n
Wati, whose husband is a fisherman, urged the government to
\ncontinue providing financial aid to the group. She got Rp 150,000
\nof the IDT funds.<\/p>\n
\"If we want to improve the welfare of the group, the sum of
\nthe aid should be increased,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the head of Kalibaru sub-district, Umar Nasution
\nsaid there are 400 poor families who have yet to receive funds
\nunder the IDT program.<\/p>\n
He said his office has received Rp 20 million a year through
\nthe IDT funds since last year.<\/p>\n
\"The funds are lent to the families without interest,\" he
\nsaid, adding that the repayment of the soft loans has posed no
\nproblem to them so far.<\/p>\n
Some 1,600 families in the sub-district have received a soft
\nloan, he added.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Thursday, the head of the city's IDT program,
\nBudihardjo Sukmadi reported to the governor that some 7,000 of
\nJakarta's poor families have received funds through the IDT
\nscheme. He said most of the recipients are fishermen.<\/p>\n
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics a Jakarta family
\nis considered living below the poverty line if it earns below Rp
\n50,000 a month.<\/p>\n
Based on bureau figures, 56.67 percent of the families who get
\nIDT funds earn above Rp 60,000 per month. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kalibaru-poor-families-want-more-aid-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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