Gov’t Prioritizes Welfare Development in Papua, West Papua

Vice President Ma’ruf Amin

In a bid to speed up the development in the eastern Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua, the Government has issued Presidential Instruction Number 9 of 2020 on Acceleration of Welfare Development in Papua and West Papua Provinces and Presidential Decree Number 20 of 2020 on Integrated Coordination Team for the Acceleration of Welfare Development in Papua Province and West Papua Province.

These two regulations aim to speed up the implementation of various action plans in the regions.

“The Government is committed to treating those provinces equally as other regions, as well as  giving priority for the regions to speed up the welfare development,” said Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, Sunday (27/6).

According to Ma’ruf, the Government has prepared a quick win program that has been designed until 2024, covering the fields of poverty alleviation, education, health, micro and small businesses, employment, infrastructure, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will be implemented systematically and gradually.

“Papua and West Papua provinces are still left behind in terms of welfare development. On that score, the Government is taking measures with long, medium and short term programs to accelerate it,” he said.

The VP also cited an example of the quick win programs. For the education sector, he added, there are Papua Smart programs, including the construction of boarding schools in seven customary areas, various scholarship programs from the Education Fund Management Institute (LPDP), Affirmation for Secondary Education (ADem), Affirmation for Higher Education (ADik), Education Fees for Poor Students with Achievements (Bidikmisi), Special Policy for Teachers, as well as the Center for International Studies at Cenderawasih University, preparation of human resources at the University of Papua, and the construction of new state universities in Biak Numfor and Jayawijaya regencies.

Meanwhile, in the health sector, Ma’ruf continued, there is a Healthy Papua program, which includes providing an easy access to treatment in eight districts in West Papua province, namely Sorong, Wondama Bay, Bintuni Bay, South Manokwari, Arfak Mountains, Maybrat, Tambrauw, and South Sorong.

In addition, there are also programs that aim to improve Regional General Hospitals (RSUD) in seven customary areas, development of the Papua Health Institute, strengthening the Health Center Plus, decent housing for the communities, handling of abandoned children, and addressing stunting.

Regarding funding, VP explained that those programs would be funded by using the existing budget of related ministries / institutions. (Vice President Secretariat/UN) (EST/EP)