Alms collection substantially drops

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)