TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Yogyakarta's Agency for Manpower and Transmigration has confirmed that it will begin to send the first wave of migrants to Bukungan Regency, North Kalimantan in October 2015.
"Preparations at the destination is still ongoing - for example, land are still being cleared, and housings for the migrants are still being prepared. Hopefully, by October, we can begin to send these migrants to Bulungan," said the Head of Jogjakarta's Manpower and Transmigration Agency, Hadi Muchtar in Jogjakarta on Friday, June 26, 2015.
According to Hadi, between five to 10 families will be sent to Bulungan in October, and that the size of each contingent will be made proportional to the amount of families who had expressed their interest in joining the transmigration program from Yogyakarta.
Hadi said that this is not the first time that Yogyakarta has embarked on such a program - in fact, it chose Bulungan and several other locations near the area because the conditions are ripe for expansion, despite its' lack of proximity to the centres of administration.
"They would have to use a boat to visit the nearest town. Many ended up working as merchants at local markets, while some became motorcycle taxi drivers or as workers at nearby palm oil producers after having worked their lands," said Hadi.
In addition to housing complete with its own garden, migrants heading out to Bulungan will be given plots of arable land, as well as agricultural training and a tool grant, which they could use to work their land.
"At the location, the land is quite fertile so migrants are not expected to encounter any difficulties in growing their own crops once they arrive there," said Hadi, who added that the migrant's living costs will be guaranteed by the state for two years since their first date of arrival.
Currently, 65 families have expressed their interest in joining the program, and are currently being selected by the Manpower and Transmigration Agency in Jogjakarta, prior to being sent to other destinations.
"They need to be within a productive age bracket - if they are too old, they might have some difficulties in adapting to the new environment and circumstances," said Hadi, who said that the Agency has also been asked to send some migrants to Gorontalo, Ogan Komering Ilir, and Kendari, but have yet to begin the selection process.
ANTARANEWS
