Foster parent program 'ineffective'

TANGERANG (JP): The government-sponsored GN-OTA foster parent program in Tangerang regency is hindered by a shortage of funds, an official said here on Monday.

Head of GN-OTA's Tangerang office Iskandar Yusuf said the problem prevented his office from meeting the needs of the steadily increasing number of children suffering due to the impact of the prolonged economic crisis.

Yusuf said that of the 9,515 children of poor families registered in 1997, only 4,762 were covered by the program.

"The number of needy children jumped to 10,526 in 1998," he said, adding that the actual figure could be about 12,000.

Fund allocations are Rp 60,000 per annum for each elementary school student, Rp 90,000 for each junior high school student and Rp 120,000 for each senior high school student.

But the allocations were set in 1984 and the funds could no longer cover all of the necessities, Yusuf said.

He proposed that the government double the rate to assist the students.

He said that besides the limited availability of funds, another problem was that assistance was often provided in goods instead of cash.

The size of the goods, such as clothing, often was not suitable for the students. "This frequently happens when the assistance is given in the form of shirts or shoes," he said.

Yusuf believed assistance should be provided in cash to ensure it could be used most effectively. (41/hhr)