Many Kedoya residents shun transmigration

Many Kedoya residents shun transmigration

JAKARTA (JP): Only 20 of the 900 families whose shanties in Kedoya, West Jakarta, were demolished two months ago have joined the transmigration program, an official said on Tuesday.

The West Jakarta mayor dispatched the 20 families last month, Ahmad Fauzi, head of the relocation section of the mayoralty told The Jakarta Post.

Ahmad did not say why the squatters' interest in transmigration was low.

An official who asked not to be identified said that many people are afraid of starting a new life as farmers in resettlement sites because they had no farming background.

"We cannot force them to resettle, but we keep informing and promoting the program to them," Fauzi said.

According to Fauzi, the main reason for their unwillingness to participate is the fear of starting a new life. "They keep thinking that they are not experienced enough to overcome the challenges in the new places."

The typical excuse is that the people from Jakarta do not have agricultural background but will have to farmer at the transmigration sites.

Fauzi said he had no idea where the other 880 squatter families had gone. (03)