Indonesian Minister of National Development Planning Bambang Brodjonegoro. (Source: Antara) Jakarta (VNA) - Indonesia has been strivingto bring its poverty rate down to 9 percent by the end of this year, accordingto the country’s Development Planning Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro.
The minister said that to achieve the target,the Indonesian government will focus on strengthening its social aid servicesfor appropriate and eligible recipients, including the non-cash food assistanceprogramme (BPNT) and Indonesian Health Cards (KIS).
The targeted recipients of programmes, such asthe BNPN, KIS, Family Hope Program (PKH), and the Indonesian Smart Cards (KIP),are those belonging to the list of extreme poverty.
Those vulnerable to falling under the povertyline will be economically empowered by offering access to microfinance and bycreating more jobs, Brodjonegoro stated.
The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recordedthat Indonesia’s poverty rate tends to decrease. In March 2018, it reached 9.82percent but decreased to 9.66 percent in September the same year. The figurerepresented a drop of over 10 percent over that in September 2017.
As of September 2018, there were still 25.67million poor people in Indonesia. The total number decreased by around 0.28million as compared to that of March the same year and by around 0.91 millionof September 2017.
Although the poverty rate of Indonesia hasreduced through years, it is still a great challenge to the country with morethan 260 million people.
Indonesia has also faced unequal development among regions,with poverty rate being higher in the eastern region than that in the west.-VNA
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