Indonesian TransmigrationThe Indonesian transmigration policy, initiated by the Dutch in the 1950s, involved moving millions of Indonesians from the densely populated inner islands to the less densely populated Indonesian outer islands.Why the Indonesia adopted a migration policy[IMAGE]The Indonesian transmigration policy was adopted to reduce congestion in Indonesia's inner islands such as Java, Mandura and Bali and to achieve more balanced demographic development. Java and Mandura represent 7% of Indonesia's total land area. However, the very unequal distribution of the population means that these two islands alone are home to 65% of the Indonesian population. The problems arose from the high population density. Birth rates are high, producing large numbers of young; despite encouraged family planning. This contributes to an annual population growth rate of 2.3%. The growth of families led to repeated subdivisions of land. Between 1973 and 1980, the percentage of landless farmers increased by 11.7%, from 3.2% to 14.9%. Improving the standard of living of the inhabitants of the inner islands was another objective of migration policy. Unemployment of landless workers (due to land subdivision) and urban unemployed was expected to be improved. It was hoped that food production would increase as well as promoting regional development and national security. The outlying islands were chosen because of the low population density and the amount of land to be colonized. Transmigration has exploited the potential of outlying islands. What the program entailed Although at the start of the program it was estimated that 48 million people from Java alone would be displaced over a 35-year period, a more realistic figure was later set at 2 million people every 5 years. Transmigration takes place from the islands of Java, Mandura, Bali and Lombok to Sumatara, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Irian Jaya. Between 1950 and 1984, Sumatara received 65% of transmigrants, Kalimantan 18%, Sulawesi 14% and Irian Jaya 3%. Migrant families must meet certain criteria. Each family must be in good health and all under 40 years old, preferably married with two or four people.