National census on family welfare begins<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The national census on family welfare kicked off
\nThursday with surveys being conducted at 10 regencies in
\nIndonesia's easternmost province.<\/p>\n
The census conducted in Irian Jaya is aimed at locating
\nfamilies who are still living below the poverty line, an official
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Head of the National Family Planning Board office in Irian
\nJaya, I Ketut Urip, said the collected data would be used to
\nidentify poor families who would be eligible to receive the
\nsavings and working capital from the government.<\/p>\n
"The results of the census will be used to improve the
\nfamilies' standard of living in the future," he was quoted by
\nAntara as saying.<\/p>\n
Ketut said that since 1995 the board's office had allocated Rp
\n137 million (US$22,872) toward a family savings plan.<\/p>\n
As for working capital, the office had allocated Rp 479
\nmillion (US$79,838) to 23,966 poor families from 1995 to mid
\n1997, he said.<\/p>\n
Ketut said the funds were used to start small businesses in
\nfood and crafts.<\/p>\n
Since 1994, the government has also provided Rp 20 million to
\nleast-developed villages in Indonesia for three consecutive years
\nas part of their program to eradicate poverty.<\/p>\n
The funds were raised by the Yayasan Dana Sejahtera Mandiri,
\nchaired by President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
In Donggala regency, Palu, Central Sulawesi, at least 17,099
\nhouseholds are reportedly still living below the poverty line.<\/p>\n
Regent Syahbudin Labadjo said the number was recorded from 142
\nbackward villages in Donggala by the Central Bureau of Statistics
\nover the past year.<\/p>\n
In Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, the number of poor families
\nhas reportedly been reduced to 25,962.<\/p>\n
Head of the board's office in South Kalimantan, Suryadi said
\nthis was a sharp decline from 51,298 families in 1994.<\/p>\n
"It shows that society's standard of living has improved," he
\nsaid. (09)<\/p>",
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