East Java poor reach 11.1 million

SEMARANG: There as 11.1 million people classified as poor in East Java, some 36.7 percent of the total population of 30 million.

Antara also reported the number of those who had lost their jobs reached 55,316 people from 64 companies by February.

Among the measures to alleviate the crisis, the provincial administration of East Java has allocated medical subsidies worth Rp 3.6 billion, funds for work programs worth Rp 5.8 billion, aid for poor families reaching Rp 600 million, capital assistance for villagers totaling Rp 7.9 billion and Rp 7.6 billion in aid to increase farm production.