Happy Smiles 661 Mamas In Manokwari, West Papua, Injected With IDR 3.3 Billion To Develop Trade

Symbolic delivery of business capital assistance from the Government (DOK ANTARA)

WEST PAPUA - The West Papua Provincial Government through the Social Service has distributed funds of Rp. 3.3 billion for the business capital of Pondok Pinang to 661 Papuan natives.

West Papua Province Social Service Head Lasarus Indou said that Rp. 3.3 billion of business capital was given to 661 Papuan mothers with details of Rp. 5 million per person.

"This stimulant for the business capital of Pondok Pinang is handed over directly to a savings book at Bank Papua, hopefully it can be used for business turnover," said Lasarus Indou in Manokwari, Antara, Friday, February 18.

He said that prior to the granting of venture capital, the West Papua Social Service since 2017 has focused on the physical construction of selling huts spread across 7 districts and cities.

A total of 661 special selling huts for Papuan women selling areca nut have been built since 2017 spread across the districts of Manokwari, Raja Ampat, Kaimana, Teluk Wondama, South Sorong, Arfak Mountains and the city of Sorong.

The program for building selling cottages and providing business capital is targeting Papuan mothers, as a concrete step for the government to respond to the escalation of People with Social Welfare Problems (PMKS) and overcome social inequality.

From a total of IDR 3,305,000,000 disbursed business capital, the first phase was given to 434 people, the details of which were from 2017 to 2020 with a total budget of IDR 2,170,000,000 sourced from the 2021 APBD-Amendment.

For the next stage in the 2022 fiscal year, the same capital was distributed to 227 people with a total value of Rp. 1,135,000,000.

"It is hoped that this stimulant can trigger Papuan mothers to develop their businesses in areca nut selling cottages and fulfill their daily household needs," he said.

Furthermore, West Papua Governor Dominggus Mandacan through Assistant II for Economics and Development Melkianus Werinussa said that alleviating social inequality in West Papua province is still a priority agenda in 2022.

He said that the provision of cottage or stall facilities to providing business capital to Papuan mothers was a clear proof of the existence of a state for indigenous Papuans.

"The state is obliged to serve and maintain the social welfare of its people in a planned and sustainable manner, this is in accordance with the mandate of Law 11 of 2009 concerning Social Welfare and is also strengthened through Law 21 2021 concerning Special Autonomy for Papua," said Melkianus Werinussa.