No More Backward Areas in W Sumatra in 2019: Vice Governor

Padang, (Antaranews Sumbar) - Vice Governor of West Sumatra Nasrul Abit said he hoped there would be no more backward areas in the province in 2019.

"Currently there are three eras in West Sumatra namely Mentawai, West Pasaman and South Solok which are still categorized as backward. In 2019, at least two of the three areas would be free from backwardness," Nasrul said here on Friday.

He said condition in the three areas have improved and development of infrastructure is in progress mainly for transport and communication facilities.

"Now what is left is increase in the people`s welfare, which is expected to improve with the availability of infrastructure," he said.

He said the most difficult is to bring modernity to Mentawai, a group of small islands in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of the mainland.

Modernization of Mentawai would need a budget of Rp2.1 trillion to build various facilities including healthcare, education and transport facilities , he added.

"Much progress has been made in healthcare and education but transport facility is still minimum." he said.

He said assistance form the Central Government is needed for the development of Mentawai, adding the provincial and district administrations could not do much financially.

Mentawai is the 76th most backward among 122 districts categorized as backward all over the country, therefore, that district is not expected to be easy to get itself out of the ranks of backward areas, he said.

The other two districts South Solok is ranked the 35 and West Pasaman the 33 most backward. (*)