Soeharto asks rich to care for the poor

Soeharto asks rich to care for the poor

YOGYAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto yesterday urged the
wealthier members of society to show that they really care for
the less fortunate by helping.

"The concern that the better off members have expressed should
be translated into concrete measures such as creating job
opportunities, extending scholarships for the children of poor
families, and organizing vocational courses," Soeharto said.

The President made a one-day visit yesterday to lead the
ceremony to present awards for communities with the best record
in administering the government's special aid packages for
backward villages.

Under the program, known by its Indonesian acronym IDT, each
community receives Rp 20 million ($8,700) a year in seed capital
which it manages at its own disgression.

More than 20,000 villages in Indonesia are covered by the
program which was launched in April 1994. The program has won
international praises as it encourages the poor to use their own
initiative in improving their lot and thereby goes directly to
the root of poverty.

A total of 283 communities, including 12 in Yogyakarta, were
selected for yesterday's award.

Soeharto more specifically challenged the business community
to move to the front line in supporting the IDT program. He also
asked grassroots organizations to give their support.

Later on during a dialog with representatives of the IDT
recipient communities, Soeharto said he could raise Rp 250
billion a year from the business community to finance the IDT
program, Antara reported.

He calculated that the country's top corporate and individual
taxpayers still made off with Rp 12.5 trillion ($5.4 billion)
after paying their taxes in 1994.

"If we ask them to set aside just two percent of this, then
we'll get Rp 250 billion," he said.

The President did not say if and when he intend to go ahead
with this fund raising program. (har/emb)