Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – The city administration has said all religious institutions are welcome to ask for grants following the city administration's plan to grant billions of rupiah to religious institutions next year.
Based on the draft 2018 city budget, the administration has planned to grant Rp 1.42 billion (US$105.138) to 22 mosques and musholla (prayer rooms) and Rp 175 million to nine majlis taklim (Quran study congregations).
It also plans to grant Rp 288 million to three churches and Rp 1.05 billion to a Hindu institution.
Mental and Spiritual Education head Hendra Hidayat said all those religious institutions had submitted proposals to get the grants.
Any religious institution could ask for a grant as long as it had fulfilled all requirements set by the administration, he added. "If they want a grant, they should submit the application to the city administration," Hendra said on Wednesday.
Hendra said that after receiving the application, the agency surveyed the institution to see whether it deserved to receive a grant.
He added that the administration usually did not offer the full amount proposed by the institution, as in principle the grant was a stimulant fund.