Number of poor families doubles<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The number of Jakarta families living below the
\npoverty line in October was 57,218, more than double the 23,384
\nfamilies recorded three months earlier, an official from the
\ncity's office of the National Family Planning Board (BKKBN) said
\non Thursday.<\/p>\n
A senior official at the office, Sumiyati, said \"the sharp
\nincrease is due to the monetary crisis, which seems to have
\nseverely hit the poor here.\"<\/p>\n
Each family in the survey represented four or five people.
\nAccording to the official figure, Jakarta is home to some nine
\nmillion people.<\/p>\n
Sumiyati said the survey was conducted during the city's free
\nfood distribution scheme for families residing in \"all crowded,
\nremote and slum areas of the city\".<\/p>\n
She, however gave no details of the condition of Jakarta
\nfamilies living below the poverty line. The Central Bureau of
\nStatistics categorizes them as those with monthly earnings of not
\nmore than Rp 227,720 (US$30.36).<\/p>\n
According to the BKKBN data, about one third of the number, or
\n16,937 families, live in West Jakarta, 13,355 others live in East
\nJakarta, 12,096 in Central Jakarta, 7,603 in North Jakarta, and
\nthe remaining 7,227 families in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
According to a councilor, the central government -- in line
\nwith the social safety-net program -- is to allocate funds worth
\n\"between Rp 30 billion and Rp 50 billion\" to the Jakarta families
\nconsidered living below the poverty line.<\/p>\n
\"Targeting at improving the welfare of these people, the funds
\nwill be given to the city administration in mid-December, the
\nsecretary of the City Council's Commission E for Social Affairs,
\nAgus Waluyo, said. (ylt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/number-of-poor-families-doubles-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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