'Use idle budget to build homes for evictees'<\/p>\n
Many urban activists have criticized development in the capital,
\nas it focuses more on decorative projects rather than
\ninfrastructure development and the welfare of the people. The
\nbudget performance is worse -- only 60 percent of the Rp 2.24
\ntrillion (US$263 million) earmarked for development projects in
\nthe 2003 city budget was used.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post talked to some Jakartans on what should
\nhave been done with the idle money.<\/p>\n
Ajar Aedi, 26, works at a private company on Jl. Kebayoran
\nLama, South Jakarta. He is single and lives in Kebayoran Lama
\nSelatan:<\/p>\n
Such meager spending shows that the city administration's
\nagencies have a very poor performance. But this is nothing new
\nbecause it's the same story every year.<\/p>\n
Officials blamed changes in the budget structure for the poor
\nspending, but this is not acceptable because they should have
\nanticipated the changes.<\/p>\n
Because of their failure to develop the city as they should
\nhave this year, the residents will suffer more. For example, the
\nsanitation agency has failed to provide waste processing and
\ntreatment facilities. As consequence, garbage is scattered
\nthroughout all corners of the capital.<\/p>\n
Yuki, 24, is in his final year at the University of Indonesia,
\nmajoring in financial management. He lives in Joglo, West
\nJakarta, with his family:<\/p>\n
What happened to the remaining 40 percent? Did it go into the
\nofficials' pockets? As far as I know, the city administration
\nmust spend its entire budget by the end of the year, even if they
\nhave to use the money for "administrative trips".<\/p>\n
There hasn't been much development in Jakarta recently,
\nprobably because the city is overdeveloped. But I must say that
\nthe design of the city is awful. Traffic jams all over the city
\nand evictions have become inevitable day-to-day experiences.<\/p>\n
The area where I live was designed as a residential area, but
\nthere office buildings are sprouting left and right, and cause
\ntraffic congestion.<\/p>\n
Any way, why didn't they use the rest of the budget to build
\nshelters or new homes for the evictees? After all, they're human
\nbeings, you know. The administration should be held responsible!<\/p>\n
-- The Jakarta Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/use-idle-budget-to-build-homes-for-evictees-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }