Gov’t to Speed Up Poverty Alleviation

President Jokowi delivers remarks at the Opening of PKH Jamboree, at State Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (13/12). (Photo: Jay/PR)

The Indonesian Government continues programs to speed up poverty alleviation, one of which is the Family Hope Program (PKH) aimed at increasing quality of human resources, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said at the Opening of the PKH Jamboree, at State Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (12/13)

The government’s data shows that poverty rate has dropped from 11.2 percent in 2014 to 9.8 percent in 2018. However, President Jokowi considered the figure is still high and needs further efforts to reduce it.

According to the President, the Government also continues to increase budgets for social assistance. For PKH program, the budget next year will increase to Rp 34 trillion with 10 million beneficiary families, rising by Rp 15 trillion compared to that of 2018 at Rp 19 trillion with 6 million beneficiary families.

In addition, President Jokowi continued, social assistance index may rise twice or three times. The amount of assistance will also rise in which each family will get Rp 550,000/family per year, while for PKH participants, they will get Rp 1,000,000/ family/year, he added.

Moreover, there are additional assistances for family with certain condition, the President added.

“For example, if there are pregnant women or toddlers in the family, they will get additional assistance of Rp 2,400,000; those who have elementary school children will get Rp 900,000; those with junior high school children will get Rp 1,500,000; those with high school children will get Rp 2,000,000; people with disabilities will get Rp 2,400,000; and the elderly will get Rp 2,400,000,” President Jokowi said.

“With these measures, the Government hopes to reduce poverty faster,” the President added.

President Jokowi also reminded that the success of the program is the responsibility of the Government as well as the PKH’s companions. “Together we can eliminate poverty from the country,” the President said. (RAH/JAY/ES)

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Edited by: M. Ersan Pamungkas