INDONESIAN WOMEN GOING FORWARD STEADILY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28987, 31 August 1959, Page 2

INDONESIAN WOMEN GOING FORWARD STEADILY

Some day Indonesia may build a monument to its women, but m the meantime the women are building a living mounment to themselves. This is evident in the programmes of education, social welfare, and aid to financial stability which they are carrying on through the provinces, writes Jessie Ash Arndt, women's editor of the “Christian Science Monitor,” from Djakarta. These petite, quiet women, for centuries held by tradition and circumstances within the boundaries of their homes, have emerged. They have scrutinised the needs of their new country and, with remarkable courage and foresight, have organised programmes designed to meet these needs. , The leadership comes from women of education and opportunity, but the work is being carried on by women of all levels. There is no fanfare about their work, nor clamour for recognition. The good it does for their country and its people is reward enough. Mrs Maria Ullfah Santosa, chief of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, is also president of the Women’s Congress, or Kongres Wanita. through whose affiliated organisations many of these programmes are carried on. For Village Leaders In Jogjakarta is the headquarters building of the Kongres Wanita. called Gedung Persatuan Wanita, or the Building of United Women, where, in 1956, training courses were begun for women from villages throughout the country, designed to equip them as community leaders. They stay for four months and are given lectures on better methods of homemaking, on agriculture, on methods of communicating the information to their neighbours, and on religion.

Forty women are trained at a time and two courses are held each year. This plan was set up with the aid of S. K. Dey, a United Nations consultant on Community Development from India, who outlined it to the Prime Minister (Mr Djanda), who was at that time head of the National Planning Board The Kongres Wanita headquarters was completed in 1956, just in time to initiate the classes. It was three years in building at a cost of 450,000 rupiahs, more than half of which was raised by the women through sponsoring an automobile race. Now they have raised 400.000 more toward the construction of an addition to house more classrooms, for living accommodation for women who come for training, and also for a library

In each case the women’s training is adapted to the areas from which they come so as to be practical and acceptable to the people with whom the leaders will work. It includes also instruction in the making of mats and other handicrafts primarily for their own use, but also to sell as a source of income. Women’s Bank

Then there is the Women’s Bank. “You must go to Bandung and see the Women’s Bank,” Mrs Santosa said, eyes sparkling. This I did, travelling through a lush countryside on a small train that climbed 2000 feet above Djakarta to a favourite vacation spot of Djakarta residents, because the air is fresh and cool compared with the tropical heat of the capital city, and Bandung commands a beautiful view of distant mountains.

Banking, for many women in Indonesia, is both a business and a social occasion, for this country has banks run by women, for women.

The first was established in Bandung 27 years ago. Now it has 2,000,000 rupiahs in a revolving fund, 1300 members. It has 17 branches, with others soon to be formed.

There were several rows • of chairs in the centre when I visited and four or five small tables at the side and in front of the cashier's cage, with pretty embroidered cloths on them. One of the women directors sat at each of these to consult with the women who came to borrow, to pay instalments on their loans, to deposit savings—or perhaps just to see their friends.

It was started to help women with meager incomes to learn to

save and also to provide loans in times of special need or to help them carry on small businesses. They may borrow up to 90 per cent, of their savings and, should they need more, another member of the co-operative must underwrite the loan. They pay it back at the rate of 2 per cent, a month on the amount outstanding. Now women of the 56 organisations which are federated here are raising money also for a Woman's Building with rooms for visitors and place for a kindergarten. A consumers’ co-operative is conducted in connexion with the banks to protect members from having to pay exorbitant prices for food.