Imbalances in city's development programs deplored

JAKARTA (JP): As the capital city won the Parasamya Purnakarya Nugraha award, many of its residents see the rapid development as having been concentrated only on particular areas.

"I admit that the physical development in some parts of the city is rapid. New apartments, high-rise buildings and flyovers are being built, but it has hardly affected my neighborhood," Mrs Dundjung, a housewife who lives in West Jakarta, said.

On the other hand she pointed out other parts of the city, such as Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin in Central Jakarta, as being in stark contrast to her neighborhood.

"From my point of view the city development is only concentrated in certain areas. My neighborhood never changes, the gutters are still clogged up," she said.

Parasamya Purnakarya Nugraha is the award given to provinces for outstanding achievements in the national development program over a period of five years. So far only three provinces have won the award; East Java (1974), Central Java (1979) and West Java (1989).

Jakarta as the capital city, known as the center of government and business, has tried for years to win this prestigious award and this year finally managed to do so. The municipality will hold a three-day festival in celebration.

"We have been waiting for this achievement for 20 years," said Djoko Broto Surjono, the organizer of the celebration ceremony.

The award is given to a province successful in encouraging development in its area as part of national development, and it is aimed at inspiring every province to speed up the pace of development in all fields.

Some Jakartans are hardly aware of the prestigious award achieved by their city. They barely taste the result of the rapid development as they are too busy with their daily lives.

"Yes, I can see the development in this city is rapid, there are many new bridges, toll roads and high-rise buildings. But the most important thing for me is to work as hard as I can to feed my family," said Sarkosih, 42, a scavenger who hails from Jongol in West Java.

He said as an uneducated man he just accepts any policies made by the municipality because he does not understand anything about the development program.

However there are many people who express their deep concerns over the fact that the development only involves the physical aspects. "The development here is only building facilities, neglecting spiritual aspects which are just as important," said Seno, a street sweeper in East Jakarta.

Untouchable

The development is also seen as out of bounds to small people. Street traders, for example, are often forced to play hide and seek with municipal officials.

"I have to close the stall when there is an operation being carried out, but I open again as soon as they are gone," said Masdono, 39, a street barber who practices under the bridge on Jl. Dewi Sartika, East Jakarta.

He said he has to operate in such a manner because he has to earn money for his family and he does not make enough to rent a room, while the municipality's plan to provide places to small- scale traders has not eventuated.

"We were all registered by the officials but when the construction of the market was completed, the kiosks there were allocated for large-scale businessmen," he complained.

While for Seno and many other residents development means the appropriation of their houses and land.(yns)