Govt Proposes 2019 PKH Budget of Rp31 Trillion for 10 Million Participants
Social Affairs Minister Idrus Marham answers reporters questions at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Tuesday (24/7). (Photo by: Rahmat/Public Relations Division)
The Government has planned to allocate the Family Hope Program (PKH) budget of Rp31 trillion for the 2019 fiscal year. Previously, the budget for the 2018 fiscal year was Rp17 trillion for 10 million families of PKH recipients.
“In 2019, according to the Presidents directives, it has been proposed that the PKH budget will be doubled,” Idrus said after meeting with President Joko Jokowi Widodo at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, (24/7).
Idrus went on to explain that, based on the survey by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) and other institutions, PKH proves the most effective social program to reduce poverty. In order to improve the program, in 2019 the Government will make a difference in the PKH system.
“If in 2018 the amount of money the recipients received was equally the same, in 2019 it is no longer equal but the amount each family will receive is very dependent on the burden,” Idrus said.
Idrus also reported the results of BPS survey to the President on improving peoples welfare and reducing poverty rate.
According to Idrus, the reduction in poverty rate from 10.12 percent to 9.82 percent indicates that the programs run by the Government meet the needs of the people.
He asserted that synergy between ministries and institutions is the second factor in achieving a reduction in poverty levels.
“For example, synergy between Ministry of Social Affairs and Ministry of Education and Culture to manage the Smart Indonesia Card (KIP), Ministry of Health manages the Healthcare Security Provider Body (BPJS), Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Agrarian, Ministry of Village, and other ministries create synergy in improving people’s welfare,” Idrus explained.
The most important factor, Idrus added, is the leadership of the President who went at firsthand to check the implementation of the existing Governments programs.
“These three factors have made the existing programs of the ministries run effectively and resulted in the reduction of poverty rate,” Idrus concluded. (UN/ES) (MUR/MMB/YM/Naster).
