1.6 Million Riau Islands's People Still Poor

Illustration (kepri online daily)

As an archipelago in the border area, Riau Islands province newly expanded from Riau province still faced with various social problems. A total of 1.6 million inhabitants, or about 18.51 percent of the total provincial population is still poor.

Poor data is the latest data released in 2011.

In addition, as many as 170 villages in the islands is still far behind, both infrastructure and economic growth.

Riau (Kepri) Islands Governor, HM Sani, during a visit to Kundur island said last week that poverty is a priority of his government program through 2015.

As the youngest province in Sumatra, Riau Islands, which is adjacent to Singapore and Malaysia should be more developed and economically better than other provinces.

However, the geography of the islands became a major factor yet the prevalence of program development. In addition, construction of infrastructure facilities also require huge costs while the budget for development is still limited.

Some poverty alleviation programs launched by the Governor is not feasible to rehab houses 17,500 homes of poor people already renovation until 2015.

Karimun Regency, this year, gets a small house 600 units for renovation with poor budget allocation through the Department of Social Karimun regency.

Governor also plans to alleviate poverty by building inter-island transportation facilities.

He also said he would assemble the islands in Karimun regency to open shipping lanes, its goal to open up access to islands and remote villages.

The implementation of free trade zone is expected to spur the economy in Batam, Bintan and Karimun.

In addition, the provincial government is also focusing on the development of tourism, one of the developing attractions in Bawah Island, Natuna Regency, hot water attractions in Buru Island, Karimun regency and Janda Berhias Island in batam. (kepri online daily/kabar kepri)