Free distribution of aid counterproductive: Expert
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)