Alms collection substantially drops

JAKARTA (JP): The value of Islamic alms given this year is expected to drop substantially as a result of the prolonged economic crisis, according to an executive from the Jakarta office of Bazis, the board which oversees collection of the charitable donations.

Abdul Shomad Muin, who heads the office, said yesterday that alms collected so far this year had not yet exceeded Rp 1 billion (US$86,206).

By comparison last year's collection reached Rp 10.9 billion, up from Rp 8.9 billion in 1996, he said.

"The drop has possibly been caused by the crisis, which has impaired people's willingness and ability to make charitable donations," he said.

Muin made the statements in a meeting on collecting and distributing alms with the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty Eradication, Haryono Suyono, and the city's Deputy Governor for social welfare affairs, Djailani.

Djailani said that only 10 percent of the capital's 9.6 million population regularly give alms through Bazis.

"Many people still think that giving alms is an activity done only in conjunction with celebrations to mark the Moslem holiday of Idul Fitri," he said.

This year the capital actually has the potential to generate between Rp 100 billion and Rp 150 billion through the collection of alms from its inhabitants, he added.

The board usually gives 60 percent of the total alms collected to small-scale Moslem entrepreneurs, a further 10 percent is used to provide scholarships for poor students, 10 percent is donated to slum inhabitants, 10 percent is used to renovate mosques and the remaining 10 percent is used to help the victims of natural disasters. (cst)