Many NGOs exploit children program

JAKARTA: At least 25 percent of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working for the benefit of the country's 100,000 street children were set up because of the lure of huge loans from the Asian Development Bank, the Ministry of Social Affairs' director general for rehabilitation and social services, Puji Astuti, says.

"Entranced by huge ADB loans, a lot of people spontaneously set up non-governmental organizations, but none of them has the qualifications nor previous experience in handling street children or other social issues," Puji said.

Since 1998, the ADB has been providing Indonesia with Rp 50 billion in loans annually to ease the impact of the economic crisis on street children. ADB funding will stop in June 2002, but the program will continue, with financing coming from the state budget.

The loans have been used to finance activities at 700 halfway homes and social institutions, such as psychological and social counselings and health services for Indonesia's 100,000 street children.

"With no more loans coming from ADB, and programs for street children to be financed with a relatively small state budget allocation, we will see then whether the NGOs are still interested in helping street children," he said. -- Antara