President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday asked regional heads to
support the central government’s empowerment program for the poor
following a report that most of them were reluctant
to do so.
The President said while opening the national working meeting for the promotion of the Mandiri Community Empowerment National (PNPM Mandiri) program that a report from the Coordinating Public Welfare Ministry last year showed that a number of heads of regions still refused to implement the program in their areas.
“People should know that the government has programs intended to reduce poverty and improve their prosperity. Why do the leaders they elect reject the programs?” Yudhoyono said.
“Let’s implement PNPM thoroughly. If there are problems such as limited regional budgets that force regions to halt funding for the program, let’s solve them.”
PNPM Mandiri was launched in 2007 in the middle of Yudhoyono’s first term.
Along with other poverty alleviation programs also launched at the time such as the direct cash assistance (BLT) and rice-for-the-poor (Raskin) programs, PNPM Mandiri has received a lukewarm reception by some regional heads.
Observers say the main reason for the apathy is that these heads of regions were political rivals of
Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party and the President himself during the 2009 legislative and presidential elections.
Yudhoyono has been accused of attempting to sway voters with his “pro-people” programs.
The PNPM Mandiri national work meeting was organized by the Home Ministry and runs from Wednesday to Friday. Yudhoyono told the ministry to do more to promote the program and explain to underprivileged communities how they could benefit from it.
Participants at the three-day meeting, titled “Proud to Develop Villages”, will discuss the implementation of the program in rural areas.
“This is an important forum as participants will learn strategies to tackle poverty and empower communities. They will also hear a number of general and technical policies related to the implementation of rural-based PNPM,” Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi said.
Apart from the reluctance of some regional heads to adopt the program, observers have criticized its implementation in the field, where funds to empower targeted communities have often gone to other people instead.
The government allocated Rp 13.7 trillion (US$1.5 billion) in 2009 to support PNPM Mandiri and has increased funding to Rp 16 trillion this year.
Under the program, the government funds activities deemed important to empowering communities.
