Cheap rice for 23,285 families

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has registered 23,285 families living in poverty to be included in the central government's crash program on the sale of cheap rice, deputy governor of social welfare Djailani said yesterday.

Djailani said the sale of rice at Rp 1,000 per kilogram was expected to be realized later this month. The market price of the staple food averages Rp 3,500 per kilogram at present.

"The figure of 23,285 is a substantial jump from only 1,807 submitted to the committee of the previous program," he said.

The government announced the nationwide program last month. It will cost about Rp 503 billion and is aimed at helping people at risk of being severely hit by food shortages amid the economic crisis.

The government decided to provide subsidized rice in line with the 1996 Food Law, which stipulates that every citizen has the right to decent food at affordable prices.

Djailani said each family to be included in the program would be entitled to buy 10 kilograms of rice every month for nine months.

The program, which has been introduced in stages, started in Jakarta's surrounding areas early last month. It is expected to cover about 1.5 million poor families in 53 regencies in 15 of the country's 27 provinces. (ind)