`Allowances for RT, RW wasteful'
The city administration plans to allocate Rp 61 billion of its 2003 budget to provide monthly allowances of Rp 200,000 for community unit (RW) heads and Rp 150,000 for neighborhood unit (RT) heads. The Jakarta Post talked to some residents about the plan.
Kurniawan, 27, a junior high school teacher who lives with his wife in Rawamangun, East Jakarta:
I'm pessimistic about whether it will improve the public service.
The leadership of the community units and neighborhood units has been running well, I guess. Even though, I believe their performances are regularly poor. At least they have volunteered to serve the public even without being paid.
The monthly allowances are a waste of money as it will not automatically improve public services.
It would be better to allocate the money to city residents to raise their quality of life.
Besides, the planned monthly allowance is too trivial.
Niken, 30, a housewife who lives with her husband in Jatiwaringin:
I don't think the monthly allowance will improve the public service in general. The service provided by the RW and RT in my neighborhood is far from good.
I think their job is actually a kind of social work which does not have a monetary value. They are just volunteers who are willing to serve the public.
My neighborhood unit chief is just an elementary school graduate. He was elected because of his ability to interact with the community. So, how can we expect a better, professional service with this small amount of money?
I'm afraid the monthly allowance will tempt people, regardless their qualifications, including the uneducated and the unemployed, to compete for the posts.
Kristanto, 30, a private employee who lives in Setiabudi, South Jakarta:
I think the idea of the city administration to provide a monthly allowance to the RW and RT chiefs is good.
It's a good sign that the city administration recognizes their jobs. They have made significant contributions to the administration.
If I may say, they deserve to have that kind of allowance in an attempt to motivate them to provide better public services.
Unfortunately, the allowance is not equal to the level of responsibility in the community.
It is quite understandable their services are sometimes still far from what we expect because they just voluntarily serve the public.
Anung, 54, a community unit chief in Gelora subdistrict in West Jakarta. He lives with his wife and four children in Palmerah;
I don't agree with the city administrative's plan to provide a monthly allowance.
I'm not working alone in my community because I have four colleagues including the deputy, secretary and the treasurer. It would be impossible for me to take the Rp 200,000 for myself. I would not do that.
It is also unfair, if I may say, that the subdistrict council member whose work is far less strenuous than mine gets Rp 500,000 a month (from the city administration).
I get my monthly income from the community here as they contribute more or less Rp 2 million a month. We distribute the income for the civilian guards, the garbage men and the executives of the community unit.
Each person gets about Rp 110,000 a month, excluding extra donations from generous residents.
-- Leo Wahyudi S