TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Center of Economics and Law Studies (Celios) director Bhima Yudhistira on Wednesday commented on the government’s goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2024, which he said is an ambitious goal. He projected that zero percent extreme poverty will be backtracked between 5 to 8 years from the initial target.

He argued that it is currently difficult to reach the target due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic that have made many people fall into poverty. Starting from the difficulty of finding employment, especially in rural areas, and rising prices of basic necessities under inflation.

"Including basic infrastructure facilities, it is not evenly distributed among pockets of poverty," said Bhima in a message to Tempo on Wednesday, June 7.

He rather suggested the government improve the infrastructure spending allocation before focusing on infrastructure in poverty-stricken areas. Such improvements could be done in the form of repairs in irrigation, rural area access roads, stable electricity, education, and health infrastructure.

"Controlling inflation, especially food, is also the key to success in reducing extreme poverty," said Yudhistira.

As initially reported, the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) head Suharso Monoarfa announced the government’s aim to eradicate extreme poverty and conveyed confidence in reaching the goal by 2024.

Previously, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati also said that efforts would be made to reduce extreme poverty to 0 percent in 2024. This was discussed in a limited meeting with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo earlier this year on February 20 as one of the government's short-term focuses.

Editor's Note: The following news' title had been corrected by adding the word "eradication" after the word "Extreme Poverty."

MOH KHORY ALFARIZI

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