Subdistrict fund to double<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Though acknowledging its aid fund was ridden with corruption,
\nthe city administration announced on Thursday that it was
\nincreasing the fund for 242 poor subdistricts from Rp 54 billion
\nthis year to about Rp 130 billion next year.<\/p>\n
\"We decided to increase the fund next year although we found
\nirregularities in the use of the funds,\" City Council People
\nEmpowerment Office head Rochana Manggala told reporters after
\nmeeting Governor Sutiyoso at City Hall.<\/p>\n
Rochana revealed that among the irregularities was the alleged
\nmisuse of Rp 90 million by the chief of the Kelapa Dua
\nsubdistrict council in West Jakarta who used the money to repair
\nhis home.<\/p>\n
She said that in Pluit, North Jakarta, the money, intended to
\nbe lent to residents as soft loans, was used to repair
\nsubdistrict buildings.<\/p>\n
\"Sutiyoso has urged me to punish the subdistrict chief and
\nasked him to return the money. He promised to return it after he
\nsold his land,\" Rochana said.<\/p>\n
The disbursement of the funds, under the Subdistrict Residents
\nEmpowerment Program (PPMK), was launched last year in a bid to
\nincrease the buying power of the residents.<\/p>\n
Rochana claimed that about 90 percent of this year's Rp 54
\nbillion had been used by 60,200 residents in the subdistricts as
\nsoft loans. About 20 percent of the loans had been repaid.<\/p>\n
\"It's still a process. I hope that the funds could be returned
\nand used by other residents,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She said 60 percent of next year's Rp 130 billion allocation
\nwould be allocated as soft loans for residents, 20 percent for
\nphysical development and the remaining 20 percent for social
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
\"The 40 percent for physical development and social activities
\nis given as a grant,\" she said without giving further details.<\/p>\n
However, she said, in future, the administration would assign
\nthe subdistrict heads to supervise the use of the money, which
\nwas earlier only handled by the subdistrict councils.<\/p>\n
Separately, activist Erfan Maryono urged the administration to
\nstop disbursing money to residents as the system was prone to
\nrampant corruption.<\/p>\n
\"The disbursement of money to residents so far lacks
\naccountability. It should be stopped,\" said Erfan, the
\ncoordinator of the Public Policy Advocacy Team (ATKP) of the
\nInstitute of Social and Economic Research (LP3ES).<\/p>\n
Besides the lack of accountability, he said the selection of
\nwho should receive the aid was not transparent and tended to
\ninvolve corruption and collusion practices.<\/p>\n
Erfan suggested that the administration developed public
\nfacilities for the poor, such as water hydrants and public parks,
\ninstead of giving out money.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/subdistrict-fund-to-double-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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