TEMPO.CO, Jakarta -Jakarta Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo met with Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al-Jufri at the minister's office on Jl. Salemba Raya, Central Jakarta, to discuss solutions to social issues in Jakarta.

“We will discuss solutions to deal with social issues together [with the Social Affairs Ministry],” Jokowi said on Thursday, March 20, 2014.

The meeting covered a host of topics, including village rehabilitation, street urchins and manusia gerobak [people who push carts for a living].

In relation to the street children issue, the Jakarta governor said his administration would work together with regional governments to eliminate the problem to its roots.

Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al-Jufri said his ministry was ready to help the Jakarta administration cope with the problems. He added addressing the street children problem would require coordination between the central and local governments.

“Their parents must be empowered. This requires solid coordination between regencies, mayors and governors,” Salim said. After the parents earn decent income, he opined, the children could be off the streets and go to school.

NINIS CHAIRUNNISA