Tangerang reopens registrations for poor

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Following incidents over the past two days with villagers running amok over cash assistance from the central government, the Tangerang regency administration reopened registrations on Wednesday for new recipients of the program.

"Everybody who considers themselves eligible for the program, feel free to sign up at their village administration office, subdistrict office, district office, or at the regental statistics body," regent Ismet Iskandar announced.

The registration will close on Oct. 31. Any new recipients will receive the three-monthly Rp 300,000 cash aid in January.

Ismet admitted that mistakes had been made in the collection of data on poor residents in 26 districts, blaming them on the brief survey conducted between Aug. 15 and Sept. 7.

Destitute residents of five villages attacked their village administration offices on Monday and Tuesday, protesting the distribution of Fuel Compensation Cards (KKB) that entitle holders to receive the cash assistance.

Villagers claimed that an inner circle of officials received cards even though they were not poor.

The violence was triggered by the absence of village heads when they came to ask for explanations.

The incidents took place at Gintung village in Sukadiri district, Kemuning and Tamiang villages in Kresek district, and the Jayanti subdistrict office which was attacked by residents of Waru, Kelapa and Pangkat villages.

The reregistration policy, however, was regarded as a time bomb by two regental councillors.

Weskurni, from the council's Commission A overseeing legal and administrative affairs, said that more problems would arise with people claiming they were eligible for the cash aid.

"Who can guarantee that all of the residents who feel they are entitled to receive the cash assistance are on the list at the time registrations are closed on Oct. 31," he asked.

His colleague from Commission D on development affairs, Barhum HS, added that the regental administration must be able to distribute the cash assistance on time.

"Any schemes for poor residents should be treated delicately. I deplore the administration's weak policy in not ensuring that targeted residents receive their entitlements," he lamented.