Minister: Integrated Social Welfare Data Updates Should Involve Ministries/Institutions, Regional Governments
The updates of Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS), which contains a complete profile of beneficiary families, should involve ministries/institutions and regional governments, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy has said.
According to the Minister, the move is part of the efforts to overcome poverty issue in the country through social assistance distribution that will still continue until early 2021.
“The Government has set a target to carry out large-scale DTKS updates next year. In addition to involving all ministries/institutions, regional governments play a crucial role in the updates and should be involved,” Muhadjir, who also serves as Minister of Social Affairs Ad Interim, said in his written statement, Monday (14/12).
The Minister also said that the final period of the 2014-2019 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) recorded the lowest poverty rate in Indonesia.
However, the poverty rate as of March 2020 rose to 9.78 percent or 0.37 percent higher than that in March 2019.
Muhadjir went on to say that there are still many challenges to face in terms of poverty reduction in the country, including the vast area as well as various socio-cultural conditions and characteristics in cities or villages with different geographical conditions.
Therefore, he said, it is essential for each region to be aware of poverty dynamics that occur in their regions, including recognizing the challenges of digital economy development that feels like eating a simalakama fruit (an old Indonesian saying that means there are no better choices), especially for people living in villages or remote areas.
“We must expand digital literacy so economic equality can reach all regions. We hope, there will be no more poor people who have difficulty in accessing economic opportunities provided by the Government through social assistance or other assistances in improving their economies,” he added. (PR of Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture/UN) (RIF/EP)
