Riza Patria Calls for Integrated Social Protection as Poverty Rate Rises
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2 October 2020 21:38 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria said an integrated social protection program that is right on target must be implemented soon given the rising number of the poor due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is urgent for us to establish an integrated social protection program that is right on target,” said Riza on his virtual speech at the launching of the Social Protection System Reform Policy in Jakarta, Friday, October 2, 2020.
Data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) showed that the number of the poor in the capital city increased by 1.11 percent, from 3.42 percent in September 2019 to 4.53 percent in March 2020.
Thus, he explained the central and the regional governments must include the new poor people in the insurance of social and security protection.
The Jakarta provincial administration, he added, had conducted a social protection program during the pandemic. One of them by distributing social assistance to 2.46 million families affected by the pandemic across five cities and one regency.
Riza Patria also highlighted the importance of data collection so that the distribution of social aids could be right on target. He said he was open to suggestions from various parties.
“The Jakarta government must be able to directly intervene in protecting the people, especially poor people and other vulnerable groups, through an effective and targeted social assistance scheme,” said the former lawmaker of the House of Representatives (DPR).
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