Governor hands out free rice

JAKARTA: Governor Sutiyoso handed over free rice to a select group of the city's disadvantaged families and city officials at City Hall on Monday.

The rice was provided by a variety of city offices, which had to comply with Gubernatorial Decree No. 2131/2004 on charity by city employees.

"I hope the rice will reach the targeted poor families so it can be beneficial for them," he said in his speech.

The charity event purposely coincides with Ramadhan, a time for Muslims to fast and give alms to the poor.

The city administration donated a total of 100,595 kilograms of rice. The figure is higher than last year's 94,775 kilograms.

Sixty percent of the rice will be distributed to poor families and 40 percent to low-ranking city employees. -- JP