Budget Runs Out For Handling COVID And Vaccination, Central Lombok Student Dormitory Renovation Postponed

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - The renovation of the Central Lombok Student Dormitory in the City of Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara has yet to be carried out. This is because local governments have limited budgets.

This was conveyed by the Regional Secretary of Central Lombok, Lalu Firman Wijaya when receiving the action of dozens of students at the local Regent's office demanding that the rebuilding of the damaged dormitory be carried out.

"Development in all fields currently cannot be carried out, due to limited budget conditions due to the impact of COVID-19," said Lalu, Thursday, August 25, quoted from Antara.

He said all the programs that had been prepared in the 2022 APBD had been shifted to deal with COVID-19, so that the planning of several development programs could not be implemented at this time.

"Most of the budget is used for treating COVID-19 cases and accelerating vaccinations and salaries for first aid workers who have been appointed," he said.

He said, what are the demands of the students, his party will conduct an assessment by sending a technical team from the relevant agency for the solution to be implemented.

"Whether we rebuild or renovate, depends on the results in the field later," he said.

Previously, the Central Lombok Student Alliance took action to the DPRD Office and the Central Lombok Regent's office to urge the rebuilding of the Central Lombok Student Dormitory.

The General Coordinator (Kordum) of the Central Lombok Student Alliance, Radian Hasan said, what was being demanded was a form of unrest and concern from the local government's indifference regarding the education of the younger generation, especially students. He demanded that the Central Lombok Student Dormitory be rebuilt, because its current condition was deplorable and unfit for habitation.

The students also demanded that the local government have regulations and policies as well as innovation in an effort to provide tuition assistance/scholarships for outstanding or underprivileged students from Central Lombok.

"We ask the local government to be committed to prioritizing the Central Lombok student dormitory in Mataram to be budgeted for in the revised APBD in 2022 or at the latest in the Pure APBD in 2023," he said.