Poverty fund needs auditing

Poverty fund needs auditing

JAKARTA: Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno ordered on
Saturday all concerned local governments to have the use of
poverty alleviation funds in subdistricts audited independently.

The audits were necessary to allow the public to know how the
funds had been spent, Hari said after concluding a dialog between
local governments and the central government on how best to
alleviate poverty.

"The funds should be audited by public accountants for
reliability purposes," Hari told reporters.

The various poverty alleviation programs have become notorious
for corruption due to a lack of oversight. The current primary
poverty alleviation program is funded by foreign loan worth
US$200 million.

"The creditors have extended the loan in the belief that the
program benefits the poor. Remember that this loan will have to
be paid by us and our offspring. So, we must make sure that it is
spent wisely," Hari said.-- Antara