Campaign to increase public participation

JAKARTA (JP): In line with the inception of regional autonomy, the city administration launched on Monday a 10-month campaign in five subdistricts aimed at increasing public participation in community development.

Sponsored by the Ford Foundation, the initiative is expected to promote more transparent governance, said Bambang Rustanto, chairman of Kesuma Multiguna, the non-government organization coordinating the program.

The campaign will take place in Gedong subdistrict in East Jakarta, Pasar Minggu subdistrict in South Jakarta, Kemanggisan subdistrict in West Jakarta, Kamal Muara subdistrict in North Jakarta and Kramat Senen subdistrict in Central Jakarta.

A total of Rp 1 billion (US$105,263) in funding will be distributed based on the needs of each subdistrict, Bambang said.

He added that most of the selected subdistricts received funds from the government-sponsored social safety net (JPS) program in the previous year, but some of the money was improperly used due to lack of public participation in determining its distribution.

A Kemanggisan subdistrict administration staff member, Jepy Riyadi, said a community council would be formed to determine the use of the funds.

He revealed that one third of the Rp 61.5 million in funding the subdistrict received under the JPS program was unpaid, particularly funds distributed in the form of soft loans for small entrepreneurs.

Under the new scheme, he added, one initiative likely to utilize the financial assistance to improve the health and nutrition of at least 165 children.

He said the program would also involve housewives and traders. (07)