Bogor's street kids needs help: Mayor

BOGOR (JP): Citing a limited budget, Bogor Mayor R. Iswara Natanegara called on the public on Saturday to help the mayoralty improve the lives of street children.

"Please don't close your eyes to street children, street vendors, orphans and working children around us," Iswara said in his speech to mark National Children's Day at Bogor Botanical Gardens.

The ceremony was attended by about 2,000 street children from the mayoralty.

He said the public should also care and be willing to help improve the conditions of the unfortunate children, because they were the country's younger generation.

"Therefore I ask for help from the public to solve the problem," Iswara said.

During the ceremony, Iswara handed over packages of aid for 60 street children. The packages contained books, stationery, school uniforms, bags and Rp 20,000 (US$2.6) in cash.

The head of the mayoralty's social service agency, Kusnadi, said that currently Bogor was home to 553 street children.

"There has been a 32 percent increase from the time before the economic crisis started affecting the country in mid-1997," Kusnadi said.

He said the increase was mainly caused by the rising number of laid-off workers, who were then unable to provide for their families.

Children were forced to find work to help their families survive, Kusnadi said.

The agency was planning to help empower 50 street children by providing a program of education, training, consultation and aid funds.

The program would use a shelter or open house system, which would also involve the children's parents. (24/emf)