Community heads to get monthly allowance

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The city administration plans to begin providing a monthly allowance for community unit (RW) and neighborhood unit (RT) heads.

The allowances, as much as Rp 200,000 (US$23) a month for community unit heads and Rp 150,000 for heads of neighborhood units, totaling some Rp 61 billion for the year, will come from the 2003 city budget, according to city councillor Muchayar.

"The idea of providing a monthly allowance for RT and RW heads was proposed by the administration to be included in the next city budget.

"It is expected that this will enable them to provide better service to residents," Muchayar told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Muchayar, vice chairman of the Justice Party (PK) faction on the City Council, said the provision of the allowance fulfilled Sutiyoso's promise to the unit heads during his campaign for a second term as Jakarta governor.

The unit heads have often complained of the difficulty of having to provide basic services to residents with no assistance from the city administration.

There also have been reports of anger on the part of the unit heads toward members of subdistrict councils, who receive Rp 500,000 per month.

While welcoming the plan to provide an allowance for unit heads, Muchayar warned that the city administration must be aware of the possible negative impacts.

"The unit heads have always worked sincerely, without any financial help. Now these allowances might open up the possibility that people will begin to fight for the position.

"Look at the subdistrict council members. Many residents have demanded that the members resign because of their poor performance," Muchayar said.

Syamsidar Siregar of the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction said the allowances meant that the unit heads would have to work harder to provide adequate services for residents.