Holes found in social safety net

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: More than Rp 500 billion in social safety net funds have yet to reach their intended target groups, an official said. He blamed local regency administrations' poor understanding of the necessary poverty alleviation projects.

Chief of the regional development planning office Eston L. Funay was quoted by Antara as saying that poor supervision also was to blame for slow implementation of the program.

"The regents here are seeking alternatives and simpler procedures to carry out the program," he said.

Programs executed so far include the provision of food supplements to 623,762 children in 13 regencies, subsidized health services to 254,643 members of 567,591 families. (yac/edt)