The problem of inequity

The problem of inequity

It was interesting to hear one observer, Juwono Sudarsono,
offer the view that inequities will continue to exist in
Indonesia for the coming 10 to 15 years. If that estimate is
correct, it would mean that at least one more decade is needed to
attain social justice for all. That is not a short period.

The question that arises now is: Will we really be able to
surmount this problem in 10 to 15 years? To judge by current
development, one may have reason for pessimism because national
development efforts at present have been unable to satisfy the
needs of the lowest strata of our society.

It must be admitted that the government has in the last few
years introduced a number of policies that have made it possible
for the industry and services sectors to grow at an impressive
pace. Ironically, growth in agriculture has been sluggish. The
existing reality is that much agricultural land is being used for
industrial development. Farmers live in increasing poverty as
they no longer possess land. A similar fate is suffered by our
fishermen, who must toil for a living with limited means.

A high cost economy continues to prevail, even in the western
parts of Indonesia, because the various deregulation measures are
often not put into practice. Aside from these constraints,
inequity is also a product of harmful practices such as
corruption, manipulation, collusion, monopoly and oligopoly, all
of which are most damaging to the common people.

In view of all this, private business should lend its support
to the various measures that have been taken to bridge this
inequity. Nevertheless, given the huge disparities that exist
between the eastern and western parts of Indonesia, between the
rich and the poor in the big cities, and between the pace of
development in industry and agriculture, it is quite reasonable
to question whether this inequity will really last for only 10 or
15 more years.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta