BKKBN gears up for autonomy

BKKBN gears up for autonomy

The National Family Planning Coordination Board (BKKBN) will hold
a national workshop later this week to determine both strategy
and policies in line with regional autonomy.

"The meeting will focus on our evaluation of program
implementation in 2001 and discussions on operational programs in
2002 and short-term plans for 2003," BKKBN chief Yaumil C. Agoes
Achir Yaumil said in a hearing with House of Representatives
Commission VII for people's welfare on Monday.

Some 250 participants, including government officials, non-
governmental organization activists and experts, have been
invited to the workshop, which will take place from Jan. 30 to
Feb. 2 at the BKKBN offices.

Noted participants will include economist Ascobat Gani,
population and demography expert Srimurti Ningsih, Gavin Jones of
the Australian National University, chairman of the Indonesian
Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development Surya
Chandra Surapati and West Nusa Tenggara Governor Harun Al Rasyid.

President Megawati is expected to open the workshop in a
ceremony at the State Palace.

Beginning from Jan. 1, 2004 at the latest, regional
governments will have to arrange and execute their own family
planning policies, according to Presidential Decree No. 103/2001.
--JP