Regent to help downtrodden

JAKARTA (JP): About 30 percent of people of working age are jobless in Tangerang regency's population of two million, its regent has said.

Agus Junara promised Sunday that his office would soon provide free chicks and fish to poor families so they could raise the livestock.

He also vowed to allocate idle land to jobless residents for farming to provide them with a livelihood.

"Apart from that, the regency office will soon distribute free essential goods," Agus said. He did not give details on the date for the distribution or those who would qualify for the assistance.

He was quoted by Antara as saying that all the aid would be handed over directly to the people, who would be selected by local officials.

Hardest hit in the downturn are the fishermen who live with their families along the northern coast of Tangerang.

The regent admitted that distributing free goods to residents was not educative.

"But it has to be done. Hopefully, the program can train the people on how to breed fish at many giant ponds available on the land here used for sand quarrying, for instance."

At 1,396 square kilometers, the regency is about twice the size of Jakarta.

In addition to problems from the economic downturn, Tangerang is now facing a serious unemployment problem following the massive destruction of hundreds of shops, banks, hotels, restaurants and other business centers in the area during the mid-May riots.

Most owners of properties have balked at reopening their business because of continuing political and economic uncertainty. (bsr)