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