Connecting the Archipelago
Leonard V.H. Tampubolon, the Deputy Minister for the Economy, National Development Planning Agency, the development of infrastructure in Indonesia is necessary because Indonesia's infrastructure level will affect the investment in Indonesia as well. This infrastructure that keeps developing in Indonesia give a positive impact as well to the equalization especially for the district outside Java.
In this section, some speakers mentioned what important things that can support to connect the archipelago. Tri Mumpuni, the Executive Director and Founder, IBEKA has interest in supporting the local community, Peter McCawley, the Visiting Fellow, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics, Australian National University mentioned about more capitals are needed to support the infrastructure and Prof. Suyono Dikun, the Chair of Indonesian Transportation Society mentioned about the transportation management.
Delivering Basic Services to Reduce Regional Disparity
Indah Putri Indriani, the Regent of North Luwu, South Sulawesi for the case study of its district which is Luwu, she explained about some services sectors that are being developed as a method to reduce the disparity in Indonesia. For the North Luwu case, there are some innovations proposed by the local government.
For the education sector, Luwu has Distribusi Guru Proporsional to distribute the PNS Teacher equally. For the health sector, the effort to reduce the mother and baby death rate is by strengthen the regent regulation related to this issue. For the sanitation and drinking water sector, the government also form policies related to the affirmation of village fund to development of drinking water and prohibition of Buang Air Besar sembarangan.
Subandi, the Deputy Minister for Development of Human Resources, Communities, and Culture, National Development Planning Agency concern about the stunting in Indonesia. The stunting case (kerdil) in Indonesia. To reduce the stunting in Indonesia, need synergy commitments to pay attention to nutrition by some parties such as government, universities, professional organization, business sectors and citizen.
Koperasi Syariah Benteng Mikro Indonesia, a syariah cooperative based in Tangerang has some activities running in financing, saving and water and sanitation. Kamaruddin Batubara as its President Director presented about how its project regarding SKIM Air dan Sanitasi, it emphasizes on its effort to sustain water and sanitation's affordability, quality, quantity and continuity. The SKIM is called Mikro Tata Air and Mikro Tata Sanitasi.
Monika Nielsen, Chief of Field Office Papua (OIC) from UNICEF Indonesia explained one of UNICEF Program for the education in Papua called Program Pendidikan Daerah Pinggiran dan Pedalam Tanah Papua) that aims to develop the effective approaches to increase the literacy level in Papua.
Related to the Water and Sanitation in Indonesia, Deviariandy Setiawan as Senior Water and Sanitation Specialist, World Bank Indonesia said that it needs a thorough transformation in policies, incentives, culture, leadership and economic politics if we want to actualize the ease of accessing water and sanitation.
For the public health systems in Indonesia, Paul Pronyk, the Chief of Child Survival and Development, UNICEF Indonesia said that Indonesia can use real-time data to strengthen the system, which all of the information related will be delivered immediately after collection so that the administrative matters are relevant. Senza Arsendy from Innovation for Indonesia's School Children (INOVASI) said that education as the basic needs of everyone needs to be guaranteed to all of the citizens because after the Asian Financial Crisis, the economic inequality does affect to the education, which is according to INOVASI, everyone has to get the equal education no matter how rich/poor he/his family is.
Writer:
Vera Hadinata
AFOSP Intern - ASEAN Foundation