Prosperity-Independence Village, Indonesia's poverty reduction model

Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs Idrus Marham. (Photo: netralnews.com)

Jakarta (VNA) - The Indonesian government has announced that it will, through the Ministry of Social Affairs, push efforts to eradicate poverty along its border by concentrating on the development of areas into “Prosperity – Independence Villages” (DSM).

Minister of Social Affairs Idrus Marham said Indonesia will build the model in 41 border districts and cities with a view to eradicating poverty and improving welfares for locals.

The Indonesian government has defined that borders are holding the key in the security – defence work, and the prosperity and development of the areas are of significance importance that greatly contributes to the economic development and security of the nation.

In Indonesia, those areas also possess rich potential for economic development and considerable human resources that can be developed in line with the DSM concept.

The building of the model has enjoyed cooperation between the ministry and universities in Indonesia since 2105. So far, 140 such villages have been built after the model. Besides exploring the villages’ potential, universities are also encouraged to find out difficulties facing those communities. Students have been sent to those areas to experience realities there.

The DSM programme is described as a new breakthrough in the effort to accelerate the poverty eradication drive in Indonesia. In this process, universities play the role of initiation and guiding on the basis of potential of the areas while the ministry acts as the manager.-VNA