Indonesians Living In Poverty Reach 130 Million - Agency (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

January 15, 1999
Indonesians Living In Poverty Reach 130 Million - Agency
Dow Jones Newswires

JAKARTA (AP)--The total number of Indonesian now living in poverty has
reached
130 million, a sharp increase from 80 million in mid-last year, an official
report said Friday.
Two years ago, the number of the poor in the crisis-ridden Indonesia was
only
20 million.
Minister of Social Affairs Justika S. Baharsjah was quoted by Antara news
agency as saying the government has pledged to overcome the problem through
the Social Security Net program.
Under the program, the 130 million poor or 20 million families would be
provided with 20 kilograms of rice monthly along with unpaid health care,
she
said.
The government allotted 3 trillion rupiahs (IDR) ($1=IDR8,900) for the
fiscal
years 1999/2000, she said.
Indonesia is currently enduring its worst economic crisis in 30 years. The
annual inflation rate is running at 80% and millions have been put out of
work
as debt-burdened businesses close.