NGOs criticize poverty eradication program<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A group of non-governmental organizations
\nadvocating better conditions for the poor suggested on Tuesday
\nthat the government intensify people's participation in its
\npoverty eradication program in order to avoid past mistakes.<\/p>\n
Circle for Participatory Social Management (CPSM) chairman MM
\nBillah told a discussion that instead of helping people escape
\npoverty, past government programs prevented the poor from
\nimproving their lot.<\/p>\n
\"Credit venture, to cite one of many examples, put farmers in
\ndebt instead of improving their income,\" Billah said.<\/p>\n
One of the government's mistakes, according to Billah, was its
\nfailure to control the prices of seeds which in turn caused
\nproduction expenses to increase beyond the farmers' reach.<\/p>\n
\"As a result, farmers have to pay off more debts to the
\ngovernment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
CPSM and 16 other NGOs conducted a four-month study of
\nconditions among the poor in six areas. The result of the study
\nwill be presented to the government.<\/p>\n
The latest Asian Development Bank data show that Indonesia has
\n37.5 million poor people, about 17 percent of the country's total
\npopulation. Some 70 percent of the poor live in rural areas.<\/p>\n
Billah said the government mistakenly issued regulations
\nwithout knowing the needs of the public.<\/p>\n
\"People have never been involved in the decision-making
\nprocess. That's why the regulations have been harmful to the
\npeople's economic life,\" Billah said.<\/p>\n
Another activist, Bambang Shergi Laksomono, also underscored
\nthe importance of autonomy and people's empowerment in the
\npoverty eradication program.<\/p>\n
He said it should be the poor themselves who decide how to
\novercome their financial burdens.<\/p>\n
In response to growing demand for a review of the poverty
\neradication program, the government plans to introduce a new
\nsocial safety net program starting in the 2000 fiscal year. The
\nprogram will focus more on recovery, instead of rescue
\noperations.<\/p>\n
A former deputy chairman of the National Development Planning
\nAgency (Bappenas), Gunawan Sumodiningrat, said on Monday the
\ncountry no longer needed rescue programs because of the improving
\neconomy.<\/p>\n
The government proposed to the House of Representatives that
\nRp 3 trillion (US$410 million) be earmarked for the social safety
\nnet program in the coming fiscal year from April 1 to Dec. 31.
\nThe current annual budget allocated Rp 5.7 trillion for the
\nprogram. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ngos-criticize-poverty-eradication-program-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}