Bekasi scraps budget for old folks' home

BEKASI: The Bekasi regental administration has decided to scrap the budget for 19 elderly men and women living in Siti Sarifah old people's home in Kampung Serang Baru subdistrict.

Head of the Siti Sarifah Dedi Suteja said the administration allocated a fund of Rp 5 million (US$536.32) per month in the 2004 budget, but without reason it had decided not to allocate any budget this year.

"We are very disappointed because we need a lot of money to take care of the elderly," said Dedi, adding that the social workers in the house did not receive a salary.

According to Dedi, who is also chairman of the Communication Forum for Bekasi Social Workers (PSMB), the regental administration needed to allocate the fund to help the elderly, who are no longer productive.

"We know there are still many elderly people roaming around and the administration must therefore allocate funds for them," he added. --Antara