City gives money to 400 poor families

JAKARTA: The Jakarta administration plans to give soft loans to 400 low-income families -- 200 in South Jakarta and another 200 in North Jakarta -- the administration's official website beritajakarta.com reported on Saturday.

Head of the social welfare agency, Soepodo, said that each of the families would receive Rp 500,000 (US$59) next month.

"The money will go to poor families who run small business and we expect them to pay it back on an installment basis in one year, after a three-month grace period," he said.

The pilot project of the aid program in Central Jakarta over the last four years had succeeded in helping improve the welfare of poor families, claimed Soepodo. -- JP