Poor fund has been tampered with: Yogie<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M.
\nconfirmed yesterday that some of the funds collected under a
\npresidential aid program -- funds which were intended for the
\npoor -- had been tampered with.<\/p>\n
However, he added that this was probably caused by
\nmisunderstanding about they way the Presidential Aid for Backward
\nVillages (IDT) should be administered.<\/p>\n
He made the disclosure during a meeting with governors and
\nprovincial secretaries from all 27 provinces at his office, the
\nAntara news agency reported.<\/p>\n
The government has been dropping packets of Rp 20 million to
\nmore than 20,000 villages across Indonesia since the IDT scheme
\nwas launched on April 1. Under the plan, the funds are to be
\nadministered directly by the poorest people in these villages as
\nseed capital for whatever ventures they see fit.<\/p>\n
The local officials' role is limited to supervision and they
\nare not entitled to take any of the funds.<\/p>\n
However, Yogie said that he had heard complaints from some
\nvillagers that they received less than the Rp 20 million.<\/p>\n
Further investigation showed that some local officials have
\ncut the funds to pay for \"operational supervision\".<\/p>\n
\"This is wrong,\" Yogie told the governors at the meeting. \"The
\ncost of supervision should be paid out of a special fund which
\nthe government is also supplying.\"<\/p>\n
Yogie also said that local officials who are found to have
\ntampered with the IDT funds will face disciplinary sanctions. He
\ndid not specify the punishment.<\/p>\n
The IDT scheme was intended to lift the condition of nearly 26
\nmillion Indonesians who are still living below the poverty line.
\n(emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/poor-fund-has-been-tampered-with-yogie-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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