The irony of living in rich East Kalimantan province
Rusman, The Jakarta Post, Samarinda
Mardian, 41, was pushing a cart full of used newspapers he bought from residents. He got them by going from house to house.
The sun was hidden by the clouds, but perspiration drenched his whole body, making him look unkempt.
"I've lived in Samarinda for 20 years. I sold my land and rice field to come here, but my life hasn't changed," said Mardian, who said he was born in East Java province.
Mardian acknowledged that he went to East Kalimantan after listening to stories that East Kalimantan was an affluent territory and rich in natural resources.
He later married Suminah, 37, whom he married 15 years ago.
He dreamed of being rich and sending his children to college, but to no avail. The cost of education in East Kalimantan is very high. Mardian's meager earnings could buy just enough food for the family.
Mardian complained that his life was full of hardships. He and his family were often evicted from the dilapidated house he built on the banks of the Karang Mumus river in Samarinda, from pieces of wood gathered from sawmills.
Mardian's life is a portrait of poverty in the resource-rich province of East Kalimantan.
East Kalimantan is known to have an abundance of natural resources. Numerous multinational companies in various sectors like oil, natural gas, coal, gold and timber exist there. Its annual budget reaches Rp 3 trillion (US$ 333 million) on average.
However, there is still profound poverty in East Kalimantan. There are 328,597 people or 12.15 percent of the 2.7 million populace still living below the poverty line.
In addition, 20,640 infants and children below five are malnourished.
Education is another problem encountered by the rich province. From 1.89 million children aged above 10, 79,000 of them have been unable to continue their education.
"The condition of education in East Kalimantan is very worrying, it has been left far behind by other provinces. East Kalimantan may be rich but it is incapable of improving conditions for its people, especially in education," said Awang Faroek Ishak, head of the East Kalimantan Education Council.
What is actually being achieved by the Rp 3 trillion provincial budget? The East Kalimantan government is apparently busy with mercurial projects while the poor are sidelined.
It earmarked a whopping Rp 900 billion for the construction of sports facilities for the upcoming 18th National Sports Games in the province.
Funds are not only used up on grand projects but on costly ones in infrastructure, transportation and government buildings.
Ironically, funds to alleviate poverty are still minimal. Meanwhile, only Rp 58.98 billion or 2.27 percent of the regional budget is allocated for education.
Government officials claimed that the government gave attention to both the plight of the poor and education.
"The whole condition is of much concern to us. Efforts will be made to subsidize poor people's education and attention given to health issues," said Nursyirwan Ismail, economic and development assistant in the East Kalimantan administration.
For Mardian, his wife and children, Kalimantan has nothing to offer.
But, Mardian is resigned to his fate, he will continue to push his cart, collect old newspaper, sell them, and feed his family.
The only thing he can do is to call on the government to improve the life of poor people like him.
"The government should give more attention to us," he said.