Gov’t Sets Target of Zero Percent Extreme Poverty Rate by 2024

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, and Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini delivers press statement after joining a limited meeting on Handling of Extreme Poverty, Thursday (18/11), at the Presidential Office, Jakarta. (Photo by: PR/Agung)

The Government eyes to lower extreme poverty rate to 0 percent by 2024, according to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto.

“In the limited meeting, President Jokowi said that the target of extreme poverty rate by 2024 is 0 percent whereas poverty rate must be decreased to 8.5-9 percent by 2022,” Airlangga said after joining a limited meeting on Handling of Extreme Poverty, Thursday (18/11), at the Presidential Office, Jakarta.

Based on the roadmap of strategies to accelerate extreme poverty alleviation, the Government this year had prioritized extreme poverty alleviation in 35 regencies/municipalities in seven provinces or five regencies/municipalities in each province. In 2022, the measures to lower extreme poverty rate to 3-3.5 percent will be implemented in 212 regencies/municipalities.

“[the coverage] will be expanded to 514 regencies/municipalities by 2023 targeting extreme poverty rate of 2.3-3 percent and 0 percent by 2024,” he said.

In that regard, the Government will continue to provide village funds direct cash assistance (BLT Desa) for 694,000 households. The Government is preparing a joint circular between the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Villages concerning disbursement of the assistance. Each beneficiary will receive Rp300,000 for three months.

In addition, the Government will provide Staple Food Card for Rp1.4 million households in which each beneficiary will receive Rp300,000 for three months, to be disbursed in December.

In the near future, the Government will hold the National Socioeconomic Survey (Susenas) in December to support efforts to alleviate extreme poverty.

In a bid to ensure coordination in making efforts to address extreme poverty in Indonesia, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin had conducted a series of working visits to seven provinces determined as priority regions of extreme poverty alleviation in 2021. The provinces are: West Java, East Java, Central Java, Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara, West Papua, and Papua.(DND/UN) (RAS/MMB)