NGOs help monitor social problems

AMBON, Maluku: The Maluku administration has asked 60 non- governmental organizations (NGOs) to help it monitor various social problems facing the province in the wake of regional autonomy.

Head of the provincial social affairs office Izhak Umarela said on Wednesday the NGOs were badly needed due to the absence of civil servants at the district level to monitor social problems.

Izhak said the regional autonomy had transferred the authority to employ civil servants to the regency administration.

The NGO activists will monitor poor families, abandoned children, street children and disabled persons, Izhak said. -- Antara