Poverty remains in the heart of 'medern' Jakarta<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto and Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In Central Jakarta where multinational companies, government
\noffices as well as most embassies are located, the Central
\nJakarta municipality appears to be failing to solve the glaring
\npoverty the exists in the heart of the city, even though the
\nmunicipality is given priorities in development.<\/p>\n
The latest report of the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS)
\nshows that the number of residents living below the poverty line
\njumped sharply by 58 percent this year to 68,599 as compared to
\naround 45,000 last year.<\/p>\n
As of Dec. 2004, the municipality had a population of at least
\n911,681.<\/p>\n
BPS defines someone as poor if they fit at least three out of
\neight defining criteria, including: living in a dwelling which is
\nless than eight square meters; a dirt floor instead of tiles or
\ncement; no access to clean water; no toilet; and a house with
\nwalls made of plywood or cardboard.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Population Agency said earlier that rapid
\ndevelopment in Central Jakarta, which has created job
\nopportunities, was a magnet for unskilled migrants from cities
\noutside Jakarta. The migrants often end up working in the
\ninformal sector as street vendors and small traders. With the
\nconsequent low income, most of them are forced to reside in slums
\nor along the riverbanks.<\/p>\n
According to a document on development of the Central Jakarta
\nMunicipality from 2002 to 2007 made available to The Jakarta Post
\non Friday, the municipal administration plans to reduce slums in
\nthe region to 122 community units this year from 130 community
\nunits in 2004.<\/p>\n
\"The municipal administration will also make extra effort to
\nreduce the number of poor families in the region to 22,000
\nfamilies this year from 26,000 last year,\" the document says.<\/p>\n
Head of the Central Jakarta Planning Board, Saptastri
\nEdiningtyas said the administration had prioritized this year
\ncommunity empowerment programs, social safety net schemes as well
\nas policies to help generate job opportunities.<\/p>\n
\"As part of the poverty eradication scheme, we are
\ndistributing cheap rice to poor families, 20 kilograms per family
\nat Rp 1,000 per kilogram, a scholarship program for poor students
\nand revolving funds to help small businesses,\" Saptastri was
\nquoted as saying by Jakarta's website Beritajakarta.com.<\/p>\n
She acknowledged that valid data on the poor residents was
\nstill a problem amid reports that some of the poverty alleviation
\nprograms had failed to reach the needy.<\/p>\n
\"That's why we urge the officers at the district as well as
\nsubdistrict levels to gather more accurate data,\" she emphasized.<\/p>\n
Aside from poverty eradication measures, the administration
\nalso plans to channel Rp 12 billion (US$1.34 million) into 10
\nselected subdistricts and two districts in the region in a 2005
\npilot project to upgrade services to the residents.<\/p>\n
If successful, the administration will extend the project to
\nall 267 subdistricts and 44 districts in 2006.<\/p>\n
==================
\nsideline story
\n==================<\/p>\n
Sumur Batu to handle own garbage, squatters<\/p>\n
One of the recipients of Rp 1 billion in a pilot project to
\nupgrade public services, Sumur Batu subdistrict in Central
\nJakarta, is focusing its one-year program on sanitation, while
\ncreating jobs for its unemployed residents.<\/p>\n
In the program, the residents will take over the task of
\ncollecting the garbage and transporting it to the city dump. The
\ncity government will pay them even after the program ends next
\nyear.<\/p>\n
In the project proposal jointly prepared by the administration
\nof Sumur Batu subdistrict and the City Administration Agency, the
\nsubdistrict has targeted six other major programs, which are:
\nsecurity and order, health, planning, social issues,
\nadministrative work, and supervision of the activities of non-
\ngovernmental organizations.<\/p>\n
Subdistrict head Bayu Meghantara said that the city had
\nprioritized sanitation, security and order as well as health
\nservices, while proposing other projects crucial to his
\nresidents.<\/p>\n
\"We have decided to fix the drainage system as one of our
\nprojects to prevent flooding during the wet season,\" he told The
\nJakarta Post on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Other programs proposed by the subdistrict include the
\nestablishment of several communication forums involving various
\norganizations -- youth organizations, public figures, school
\ncommittees, mosques, women's groups and the subdistrict council.<\/p>\n
\"Such forums are important so that we can communicate with all
\nelements in the society. With good communication, we can solve
\nvarious problems more easily,\" Bayu argued.<\/p>\n
In the security and order program, the subdistrict will set a
\nmechanism to deal with floods, fire and dengue fever, besides
\ncreating an environment free of drugs, brawls, gambling,
\nsquatters, prostitution, illegal vendors and illegal car and
\nmotorcycle races.<\/p>\n
According to City Administrative Agency head Agus Salim Utud,
\nthe pilot project would also aim at creating a more independent
\nsubdistrict.<\/p>\n
\"With the funds, various tasks that are usually handled by
\nrelevant city agencies -- health agency and public order agency
\n-- will be delegated to the subdistrict level,\" he told the Post<\/p>\n
However, Bayu said he was still a bit nervous about managing a
\nproject valued at Rp 1 billion.<\/p>\n
\"It is totally new. There is no example that I can refer to in
\ncarrying out the programs.\" -- JP<\/p>\n
Sumur Batu's seven main projects<\/p>\n
No. Activity Budget (in rupiah)
\n----------------------------------------------------
\n1. Sanitation 228.8 million
\n2. Security and order 200 million
\n3. Health Services 80 million
\n4. Subdistrict planning 50 million
\n5. Subdistrict social 70 million<\/p>\n
welfare activities
\n6. Subdistrict administrative 258 million<\/p>\n
activities
\n7. Non-governmental 6 million<\/p>\n
organization supervision
\n-------------------------------------------------<\/p>\n
Total 892.8 million<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/poverty-remains-in-the-heart-of-medern-jakarta-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }