Free distribution of aid counterproductive: Expert

JAKARTA (JP): An expert spoke out against the free distribution of aid for people suffering from the economic crisis yesterday, saying it would not boost their confidence or be sustainable.

United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) representative for Indonesia Stephen J. Woodhouse sharply criticized charities which distributed free aid to those claiming to be the most hit by the crisis.

"We've assumed that those people are so bankrupt they can't even afford to buy a meal. Please, let's now assume that they're hard workers who are willing to work to get what they need."

He argued that activities, such as giving out basic necessities and meals for free, were draining resources and that charities had been largely ignoring the psychological impacts of such programs.

Providing free basic necessities encourages people to be dependent and weakens their motivation to help themselves, Woodhouse said after addressing a two-day workshop on social safety net activities organized by the National Institute of Sciences (LIPI).

Instead, the funds collected from people could be used to sell basic goods at lower prices or to strengthen other sectors affected by the crisis, he added.

"A series of similar activities at different places can be held using the funds collected and can even help other sectors like health and education," Woodhouse said.

An expert at the Ministry of Social Services, Holil Soelaiman, said charities experienced problems in supervision and evaluation of the operational level.

The distribution of relief for free or at cost is prone to manipulation and corruption, he said.

During the two-month term of former minister of social services Siti Hardijanti Rukmana earlier this year, the ministry prepared a large subsidy for the distribution of free and low- price meals to recently laid-off workers and to help people find new jobs.

The scheme included a nationwide program to financially assist small roadside food stalls providing cheap meals to the poor.

The project, however, disintegrated after many food stall owners protested that they never received ministry funds to cover the cost of the meals.

"It's hard to control the flow of funds and the possibility of corruption and manipulation in aid distribution," he said. (emf)