GOVT PREPARING BILL FOR MORE EFFECTIVE POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMS

Jakarta, Feb 4 (ANTARA) - The government is currently preparing a draft law to boost the effectiveness of poverty alleviation programs, Coordinating Minister for the People's Welfare Agung Laksono said here on Thursday.

"Now all ministries conduct poverty alleviation programs. To make the programs more effective and sustainable the government is now preparing a legal umbrella for them. So the implementation of the programs will not rely on the government and therefore will always continue," he said after leading a coordination meeting on poverty eradication.

He said the government had already prepared the academic draft of the law for discussion.

The coordinating minister's deputy for poverty eradication, Sudjana Royat, said the government would start conducting public consultations next March.

He said the content of the draft was based on the strategy for poverty eradication in 2005.

"The aim is among others to encourage partnership between the government, the private sector and the community in the poverty eradication effort. Ministries and institutions must not work by themselves," he said.

He said the drafting of the law was also aimed at increasing the role of regional administrations in the effort.

"So the budget for it will not come from the national budget only. The regional administrations are expected to allocate a special budget for poverty alleviation," he said.

He said the draft law also states the criteria of poverty and regulates the role of private parties and the community in the poverty alleviation efforts.

"It also includes a regulation on incentive for companies giving real contributions to poverty alleviation efforts," he said.