President Jokowi Calls on Ministers to Integrate Poverty Alleviation Programs during Pandemic

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung listens to President Jokowi’s directives at a Limited Meeting on the Acceleration of Improvement of the Village Economy through video conference, Thursday (24/9), at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. (Photo by: PR/Agung)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo called on ministers to use COVID-19 pandemic as a turning point to integrate and consolidate poverty alleviation programs with village economy improvement program.

“I urge ministries to avoid creating programs which are not integrated since the results and outcome cannot be clearly shown. The programs must be integrated,” the President said at a Limited Meeting on the Acceleration of Improvement of the Village Economy through video conference, Thursday (24/9), at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.

President Jokowi then cited an example of integrated programs. Ministry of Village ensures that Village Funds are used for productive sector, while Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing prepares the basic infrastructure and Ministry of Transportation prepares connectivity, Ministry of Social Affairs provides assistances to the poor, and Ministry of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises helps micro and small businesses.

“There are indeed many programs that can be adopted but if they are not integrated, we cannot see the concrete results. Thus, all programs must be carried out in one big, solid, and integrated strategy,” he added.

He went on to say that village potentials such as agricultural sector, village tourism and industries must be developed to strengthen the leverage of village’s economy.

All works must be undertaken in top-down strategy. In addition, we must provide villagers a room for participation and creation to develop their potentials.

“I think we must facilitate the development (of villagers’ potentials), open access to gain capital for business, improve the technology and skills, and encourage cooperation among villages so that the entrepreneurs can level up and enter wider markets,” the President said.  (FID/EN)

Translated by : Rany Anjany
Reviewed by: Lulu Wuliarti