Figure 4.2. (Photo) PKK village program in Tuhaha.
4.4.2 TAKESRA
The TAKESRA groups are small savings groups (± 10 people) that particularly target low
income women. It is an initiative of the National Coordinating Agency for Family Planning
(BKKBN) and is usually carried out by the village head. He draws up a list of participants
and sends it to the district office in Masohi for approval. Each TAKESRA has a chair, a secretary
and a treasurer. The members have to save a weekly amount of Rp250 (Toisapu) to Rp1,000
(Nolloth). The money is put in a bank until a certain amount is reached. Then the group can
get an additional government loan (Rp200,000 to Rp2 million in a later phase1 ) to start small
businesses (chicken breeding, restaurant, etc.). Decisions are made in membership meetings.
4.4.3 ARISAN
ARISAN is an informal savings program initiated by villagers from the lower social classes.
It started in the 1990s as a government program but now many groups function separately. In
Nolloth, for instance, the ARISAN group claimed to be independent and informal. They feel
disconnected from the mainstream and do not expect the government to take care of their
problems. Therefore they use a revolving fund system to provide the members with some
capital. Everyday, they deposit Rp1,000, and on Sundays, one of the members is given the
total of Rp49,000 to use for small-scale enterprises such as sago processing or bread baking.
4.4.4 Social Service Department groups
The Social Service Department of the government has set up various economic development
groups including IDT and KEP. Farmers, fishers and other small business people may be
assisted through the IDT, which is a national program aimed at alleviating poverty. Each
qualifying village receives a Rp20 million loan from the government to subsidize small-scale
development. The money is divided among four groups. They again divide it amongst their
1 The rate of the Rupiah to the US dollar has changed as a result of the economic crisis in Indonesia. Rates used in
this report are: USD1 to Rp2,300 in 1996; USD1 to Rp2,500 in the first half of 1997; USD1 to Rp2,800 over 1997;
and USD1 to Rp10,000 in early 1998. For a complete overview see Appendix 8.
40 An Institutional Analysis of Sasi Laut in Maluku, Indonesia