25 poor subdistricts to receive Rp 50 billion

JAKARTA (JP): The elite Menteng subdistrict in Central Jakarta is among 25 poor subdistricts in the city's five mayoralties that will receive a total Rp 50 billion (US$4.5 million) grant from the city administration.

The Menteng subdistrict is known as an upmarket area with luxurious houses, including the residence of Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri and those of former president Soeharto's family.

City Spokesman Muhayat said on Wednesday that Menteng is included in the list of poor subdistricts that deserve the fund as there are two poor community units (RW) located adjacent to a railway track near the Ciliwung river, which are considered to be poor communities.

There is a total of 265 subdistricts in the city.

The Rp 50 billion fund is allocated under a program called the Empowerment of Subdistricts Communities and would be taken from development monies in the 2001 City Budget.

"It would be disbursed soon after the public had been made aware of the program, a process which should be completed this month," Muhayat told reporters.

He said the poor subdistricts would receive Rp 2 billion each and are allowed to decide the use of the fund according to their needs.

"The fund would be disbursed to the subdistricts directly under the 'block grant' system, without interference by city agencies," he said.

Although the subdistricts are free to decide how to spend it, Muhayat said use of the fund would be supervised and monitored by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including the Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (Fitra) led by sociologist La Ode Ida.

"We carefully selected the NGOs since we knew that some of them were not qualified," he remarked.

Other poor subdistricts in Central Jakarta are South Mangga Dua, Serdang, Kramat and Menteng.

Five poor subdistricts in North Jakarta are Sungai Bambu, West Pademangan, Lagoa, Kebon Bawang and Penjaringan, while the five in West Jakarta are Tegal Alur, Duri Kosambi, Jelambar, Tanah Sereal and Duri Kepa.

Five of East Jakarta's poor subdistricts are Pal Meriam, Kayu Manis, Kebon Manggis, Klender and Kampung Melayu and five in South Jakarta are Karet Kuningan, West Cilandak, East Cilandak, Cikoko and Pela Mampang.

All of these would receive the fund.

Last year, the city administration allocated Rp 15 billion to 15 poor subdistricts. (jun)