More poor families rely on cheap rice

JAKARTA (JP): The number of city residents purchasing rice via the city-run inexpensive rice program increased by nearly 70 percent to 118,417 families in May from 69,998 families in March, a city official said on Saturday.

An official of the regional economic bureau, Djodjo Sutardjo, said the sharp increase was caused by a steadily increasing number of unemployed as the economic crisis dragged on.

"The program, meant to help families living below the poverty line, focuses only on the poor and unemployed," Djodjo said.

Data from the bureau showed that of the 118,417 families relying on the low-cots rice, 31,807 were from East Jakarta, 25,752 from West Jakarta, 23,649 from Central Jakarta, 23,518 from North Jakarta and 13,691 from South Jakarta.

Under the program, the rice is sold for Rp 1,000 per kilogram. (ylt)