MINISTER: SOCIAL FUNDS MAY REACH RP17 TRILLION IN 2009

Boyolali, C Java, Feb 8 (ANTARA) - Coordinating minister for people's welfare Aburizal Bakrie said here on Sunday that total social funds available in 2009 could reach Rp17 trillion.
He made the statement after handing over a directly useable aid given through the the National Program of Self-Sufficient Community Empowerment (PNPM) and Smallholders' Credits (KUR) for 13 districts and towns in Surakarta and Kedu at the Boyolali district administration office.
The minister said up to Rp11 trillion of the funds would be provided by the central government while Rp5 trillion from additional allocations, 20 percent from regional administrations and another 20 percent from the community.
He said all the funds would be distributed to 78,000 villages in the country. Under the program people propose, design and implement their infrastructure development projects supported by government consultants. "This way people develop their sense of belonging over the projects," he said.
He said the program was now very popular among the people because it made their sense of belonging grow as projects came from them and not from the government.
In view of that the government hoped it could provide up to 20 million jobs to the people through the program.
He said although the people would not work for a year long but probably only five to six months the program at least could provide 20 million jobs.
He said the government had launched the grassroot program in order to reduce the number of the poor now reaching around 35 million to 10 millions in 2015.
He said four million jobs were provided through the KUR program in 2008 and the number was expected to rise this year.
He said the KUR program was aimed at empowering the people through development of micro-businesses.
He said the KUR program provided easy access for the grassroot people such as farmers, fishermen, craftsmen and sidewalk traders to get credits from banks.
"The KUR is expected not only to reduce the people's dependency on loan sharks but also create new businesses that will increase people's income and reduce unemployment," he said. ***3***