Economy more resilient without mining: Tabalong Regent

Tanjung, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The existance of coal mining companies in Tabalong District in fact has not been able to completely reduce poverty rate. Even its per capita expenditur remain low, because mining workers spent a lot of their money out the district.

"Actually, Tabalong's economy will be more resilient if there is no mining sector," said Tabalong Regent Anang Syakhfiani here on Thursday during the public consultation forum on the district's 2023 working plan (RKPD) which was organized by the Development Planning, Research and Development Agency (Bappedalitbang).

Anang urged that the public consultation forum to be able to formulate activities in the mining sector in order to create jobs as well as multiplier effct for Tabalong.

The trade sector too, he said, needs to be developed so that private employees spend more money in the district.

However, Anang acknowledged, the increase in the poverty rate from 5.72 to 6.27 also occurred due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

Even though the poverty rate increased, the open unempoyment rate in the district is lower than the provincial rate at 3.43.

Likewise, life expectancy of Tabalong which is 70.33 quite good at third place, so does its Human Development Index of 72.9 also the third in the province level.

The public consultation forum on the district's 2023 working plan was attended by sub-district heads, NGOs, youth organizations, community leaders, and representatives of mining companies.

Head of Bappedalitbang Muhammad Noor Rifani said that this forum was to solicit various input related to the 2023 RKPD.

"Since December 2021, we have compiled the 2023 RKPD and this public consultation forum to receive input related to the regional development activities," Rifani expounded.