Emil calls for support for social safety net

JAKARTA (JP): Senior economist Emil Salim has called for public support for the government's effort to build the social safety net for the poor it promised in its economic reform package.

Speaking at a seminar on political and economic reform to commemorate the second anniversary of Tempo Interaktif magazine yesterday, Emil said the government's concept of a social safety net would not succeed without public participation in its implementation.

"Economic reform is not to be formulated and disseminated only but also implemented with the participation of all elements in society... Whatever you do, please, join the program to save the poor," he pleaded.

Emil underscored some crucial points in the program, including food security, the provision of medicines, the creation of jobs for the unemployed, environmental protection and the care for the elderly.

He said the creation of certain labor-intensive projects, such as the "food for work" program, would prevent starvation -- a threat that had loomed in a number of remote regions.

"Can you imagine the (plight) of people in East Kalimantan, whose lands are burned down and can no longer grow anything? What should they eat? How can the people in Gunung Kidul (Yogyakarta) live if they had no income to buy food?" said Emil, also a former cabinet minister.

He said that "straight employment programs" meant for people who could not generate income, should be extended using the US$100 million allocated by the World Bank.

He also pointed out the importance of providing medicine which the poor could afford.

"If the drugs' prices are soaring, how can poor people get medication for their illness?," he said.

Emil appealed for environmental protection, in particular the prevention of forest fires, and the provision of water.

He also urged people to take special care of the elderly who were no longer able to fend for themselves, especially in the current monetary crisis. (09)