Empowerment program helps improve community welfare

Wasti Atmodjo and Hyginus Hardoyo , The Jakarta Post , Gianyar, Denpasar | Wed, 09/03/2008 10:50 AM | Bali

The Bali chapter of a government-backed community empowerment program has improved welfare and provided infrastructure for the poor on the holiday island since it was introduced in 2003.

The program was allocated Rp 212.98 billion (US$23.60 million) for spending in Bali, and has used the money to finance micro-credits, the construction of village roads and bridges, clean water, new houses for the needy and the construction and renovation of markets.

The program, called the Mandiri National Community Empowerment Program (PNPM Mandiri), was formed to help alleviate poverty by entrusting local residents to independently prepare and manage empowerment activities.

PNPM Mandiri is supervised by the Office of the Coordinating Minister of People's Welfare and deploys teams from various ministries or related institutions.

The program also receives financial backing from donor countries in the form of grants and loans passed on from the National Development Planning Board.

In this year alone, PNPM Mandiri has conducted activities in 521 villages in 39 districts in Bali, and has spent some Rp 60.75 billion, Putu Agus Brahmantya, coordinator of the program in Bali, said in Gianyar on Monday.

According to Bali provincial data, Bali has a total of 56 districts with a combined population of about 3.5 million, including 821,313 families -- 17.90 percent of which are considered poor.

The program invites each village to submit proposals for activities and aid they urgently require.

Local people can propose new construction projects as long as they do not threaten the environment, violate regulations or support political movements.

Each district receives an average of Rp 1 billion per year in funds.

BONAFIDE GOODS: A kiosk operates outside Bona village market in Blahbatuh, Gianyar. The market was built and operated under an initiative of local residents. (JP/Wasti Atmodjo) BONAFIDE GOODS: A kiosk operates outside Bona village market in Blahbatuh, Gianyar. The market was built and operated under an initiative of local residents. (JP/Wasti Atmodjo)

Bona village in Blahbatuh district, Gianyar regency, is considered one of the most successful implementers of community empowerment projects in Bali.

Bona village has allocated most of its funds received since 2003 for the construction of elementary schools and a new village market and for providing garbage bins and carts, as well as for financing credit for women, especially those who run businesses.

"With regard to the construction of the village market, for example, the facility has become the center of the village's economic activity which accommodates all sellers who used to offer their goods as sidewalk vendors," Bona village head IGK Susila said.

He also cited as an example of the village's success the revival of its credit financing body, which was on the verge of collapse in the wake of the Bali bombings in 2002.

The village's financing body now has a combined capital of Rp 2 billion with a 98 percent rate of installment repayments, he said.

"Other housewives and I here are grateful to the credit financing body, which has helped us a lot," said IGA Tirtaningsih, one of the credit financing body's members.

"We strictly abide by the rule to repay the installments on time, otherwise we will be prevented from proposing new loans."

Brahmantya said the fund allocation for the construction of simple houses for the needy was proposed in Jembrana regency in 2007.

At least 320 houses of this type have thus far been built, he said, adding that the houses were given to poor residents who no longer had relatives or who lived in houses with dismal conditions.

"Each house is renovated at a cost of between Rp 5 million and Rp 8 million," Brahmantya said.

Comments (0) | Post comment

A | A | A |