Tangerang reopens registrations for poor

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.