Discussion On Fund For Villages Draws Enthusiastic Reaction

Sampit, Kalteng, May 10 (ANTARA) - The discussio on Rp1 billion to be allocated for each village in the regency of Kotawaringin Timur, Central Kalimantan, raised by the district legislative assembly, drew enthusiastic reaction. "We hope it is not an idle talk. We are happy when it becomes a reality. A lot of village programs have not been carried out on financial difficulty," Satar, chief of the village of Unjung Pandara, Teluk Samopit," said here on Friday. Development of a village market center in Sampit had been half finished on financial problem, Satar cited, adding it could be finished with more fund. He said every village in the district has its mid term development program and rural development working plan prepared based on the aspirations of the villagers. However, funds from the district budget, and aid from the central government have always been far from being enough to implement the program, he said. He said he was happy with the possibility of the additional fund for village development but he stressed the need to improve the qualification of village chiefs and their staff in managing the funds. There are many cases of villages, failing to account for the spending of budget funds they received resulting in delay in disbursement of fund to other villages, he said. He said disbursement of funds for all villages would also be withheld if one village in the same district has not submitted reports about the spending of fund received in previous year. Meanwhile, Jhon Krisli, chairman of the district legislative assembly, said development of backward villages in Kotawaringin Timur would grow fast if the program comes to reality. The Rp1 billion fund could be used for infrastructure development such as road, and drinking water supply projects, Jhon said.