The government will also build infrastructure facilities ..."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Minister Marwan Jafar wants local governments to participate in assisting candidates for transmigration by improving the program that aims to boost the welfare of citizens.

In his statement released here on Tuesday, the minister said that local governments can interact with citizens every day, which can help them select potential candidates to become transmigrants.

"Local governments play an important role in ensuring the success of the transmigration program, which is a government project," he stated.

According to Jafar, the publics interest in transmigration continues to be low because socialization and promotion of the program need improvements.

Moreover, the minister pointed out that detailed information about the transmigration program should be disseminated comprehensively, including data on educational and health facilities that will be provided. Such information can serve to convince people to join the transmigration program.

"The government will also build infrastructure facilities, such as places of worship, schools, medical centers, and other supporting services, in transmigration settlement areas. (With the help of these), the transmigrants will be able to work productively," he affirmed.

Furthermore, Jafar admitted that ensuring the success of the transmigration program is an important solution to resolve the issues of population explosion, unemployment, and poverty in various regions.

The minister also noted that some of the village budget for 2015 has yet to be absorbed because it is still being processed by the Ministry of Finance.

According to the law on villages, Jafar explained, every village receives a budget of some Rp1 billion. The law was followed-up by a presidential regulation.

(Reported by Muhammad Razi Rahman/Uu.INE/KR-BSR/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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