Tutut leads campaign to ease crisis' impact

JAKARTA (JP): New Minister of Social Services Siti Hardijanti Rukmana led yesterday a limited ministerial meeting to develop both immediate and long-term plans to deal with the social impact of the monetary crisis.

Hardijanti, who is better known as Mbak Tutut, said at a media briefing afterward that initiatives ranged from distributing free meals to laid-off workers to finding new jobs -- such as tilling idle land -- for those who became unemployed during the economic slump, were being prepared.

"We have yet to obtain information as to how many people have been affected by the crisis, but what's important is (finding ways) to appease people's concerns," she said after the meeting attended by, among others, Minister of Home Affairs R. Hartono, Minister of Manpower Theo Sambuaga, State Minister of Youth and Sports Agung Laksono, Minister of Cooperatives Subiakto Tjakrawerdaja, and Minister of Education Wiranto Arismunandar.

Minister of Religious Affairs Quraish Shihab and Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsuddin were also present.

"The impact of the monetary crisis does not affect only the economic sector but also the social side," Hardijanti said.

Indonesia is battling a major economic crisis after the collapse of the rupiah. The Indonesian currency has depreciated by more than 70 percent against the dollar since the middle of last year.

President Soeharto initiated a novel drive earlier this week, pledging his year's salary to the poor. His 36 cabinet ministers and many other high-ranking officials such as governors have also stated their commitment to the drive, many noting that they would not face any hardship at all given that their benefits were often bigger than their salaries.

Hardijanti's office will be in charge of the mobilization and disbursement of the donation. She said the donations from government officials as well as the private sector had started to flow in but had yet to be calculated.

She said two large private conglomerates had donated Rp 3 billion (US$294,000) Thursday.

"Yesterday I received from Barito's director and commissioners one year's salary, or Rp 2 billion, and from Astra's commissioner and director also one year's worth of salary, or Rp 1 billion.

"If the money were to be managed by the finance ministry then it would have to appear in the state budget, which would complicate its distribution. If it is held by the Ministry of Social Services it could be disbursed immediately."

Hardijanti also said her office planned to distribute money to help the poor and those laid off because of the economic crisis.

The fund would provide cash assistance for small Warung Tegal (roadside) food stalls, which are popular with people of the lower economic classes.

"We will revive Warung Tegal so that people will always be able to buy (cheap meals) from there," she said. (swe)