Embezzlement of IDT funds

Embezzlement of IDT funds

The government's good intentions to fight poverty under the Least Developed Village Program (IDT), as per a Presidential instruction, could vanish without a trace if no action is taken against certain individuals. Individuals who have succeeded in intercepting funds meant for implementation of the program's second stage in Ujungjaya, subdistrict Sumur, Pandeglang, West Java.

The villagers only received 320 chicks, to be distributed among 200 families, instead of the expected Rp 20 million.

The funds meant to help impoverished villagers had, reportedly, arrived eight months ago. Supposing that one chick would have cost Rp 4,000, the price of the chicks would have amounted to only Rp 1,280,000.

The incident was duly reported to both the regent of Pandeglang and the chief of subdistrict Sumur. But this incident brought more disappointment to Ujungjaya villagers when only regional officials came to meet with the village authorities. Later, most of the villagers were called in, only to be reprimanded and intimidated by authorities from the village administration.

One of the residents who filed his complaint with the Pandeglang regional office, got a lashing from the subdistrict chief. The regional administration did not act to benefit the villagers, on the contrary, it now looks as if nobody can be held responsible for the disappearance of state funds meant to fight destitution in poverty stricken villages.

How is poverty going to be eradicated if the government does not give an ear to complaints and peoples' aspirations, or, when no legal action is taken to fight corruption among officials.

MUHAMMAD

Ujungjaya, Pandeglang