Lost Reason Grants for Vertical Institutions |
A number of civil elements criticized the Aceh Government's policy of allocating a fantastic amount of Rp32.179 billion for several vertical institutions. We call it fantastic not only from the aspect of numbers alone, because the amount is very relative, depending on what the budget is used for.
If the funds were used to build school buildings, bridge facilities, or agricultural infrastructure, then that amount would be more than enough. To build one elementary school unit with a study room, teacher's room, toilet, plus complete furniture, more than five school units could be built, although the calculation must consider the location, quality of materials, and workers' wages.
Don't forget, there are still districts in Aceh that do not have a nearby elementary school so that students have to struggle with nature because the infrastructure to reach the school has not been built.
The Rp32.179 billion budget could also be used to help annual scholarships for children from underprivileged families. If each poor child is given Rp1.5 million to Rp2 million, then 16,000 to 21,000 children will be helped.
Don't forget, based on data from the Central Statistics Agency, there are still more than 804 thousand or 12.64 percent of the poor population in Aceh as of September 2024. This figure is far above the national average of 8.57 percent in the same period. With the current dying economic conditions, where jobs are scarce and layoffs are hitting, the number of poor people could increase.
The IDR 32.179 billion budget can also be used for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) empowerment programs or for access to clean water and sanitation or various other programs that directly affect the interests of the Acehnese people. And more importantly, the program does not violate regulations.
Various regulations, starting from Law Number 23/2014 concerning Regional Government, Presidential Regulation Number 12/2019, to Instruction of the Minister of Home Affairs Number 900.1.1/435/SJ of 2023, prohibit the allocation of grant funds to vertical institutions under the control of the central government.
Funding for agencies that are extensions of the central government has become the responsibility of the State Budget (APBN), not charged to the APBA.
This practice has been going on for a long time. Not only in the APBA, but also in the APBK of several districts and cities in Aceh. There have been parties who have criticized it. However, the allocation of funds for vertical institutions continues to occur. In fact, several of these institutions, such as the police and the prosecutor's office, are law enforcement agencies that would be unlikely to know that the grant funds violate the law.
From information obtained by this media, the allocation of the Rp32.179 billion grant funds is under the acting governor of Aceh. However, all parties expect the Muzakir Manaf - Fadhlullah Government and the Aceh DPR to be able to cancel the allocation of these funds in the APBA. All parties have spoken out loudly to divert the funds for needs that are directly related to the interests of the Acehnese people.
Officials in vertical institutions should also be self-aware and ashamed to ask the Aceh Government for the budget. They are not orphans who must be spoon-fed by the APBA.[]
