Bazis collects more alms, donations

JAKARTA (JP): In spite of the economic crisis, the Jakarta Agency for Islamic Tax, Alms and Donations (Bazis Jakarta) collected Rp 8.1 billion (US$862,000) from Muslims in the capital during the year ended March 31.

The figure is 20 percent higher than the Rp 6.7 billion collected in the 1998/99 period, Bazis Jakarta head Abdul Shomad Muin told reporters on Tuesday.

Abdul lauded the donors for continuing to meet their religious obligations in times of crisis.

Muslims are obliged to set aside at least 2.5 percent of their income towards zakat (tax), besides their tax obligations to the state, in addition to infaq (alms) and sadaqah (donations).

Bazis Jakarta is the agency of the city administration that collects, manages and channels the funds in Jakarta.

"We plan to use the funds to eradicate poverty and improve the quality of human resources among the poor living in the capital," Abdul said.

The agency this year plans to allocate Rp 5.5 billion in scholarships for children of poor families.

These include a Rp 120,000 package comprising shoes, books and uniforms for 13,000 elementary school pupils for the entire year; a Rp 150,000 package for 6,000 junior high pupils for the year; and a monthly Rp 35,000 cash donation for 1,700 high school and university students.

Elementary and junior high school students receive their entitlements in kind because of reports that in the past cash were misappropriated along the distribution channel and never reached the intended recipients, Abdul said.

Another Rp 3.2 billion will be distributed in the form of loans of between Rp 300,000 and Rp 500,000 each to 520 small traders.

"The point is to help small traders and boost their managerial skills," he said.

Bazis Jakarta is relying on non-governmental organizations to supply data on traders in traditional markets who need credit, he said.

The agency is carefully selecting beneficiaries and monitoring the disbursement of the funds, he said.

"We want to make sure that the money reaches the intended targets," he said, adding that at least 17,000 small traders have already benefited from Bazis loans. (06)