City gives money to 400 poor families

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