Indonesia Govt Optimistic to Reduce Extreme Poverty Rate to 0% in 2024

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs said that there are currently 3.3 million Indonesians in extreme poverty. "Around 3.3 million across Indonesia," said the Deputy of Social Welfare Improvement of the ministry Nunung Nuryartono during a media briefing in the ministry office on Wednesday, August 23, 2023.

However, the government is optimistic about eradicating extreme poverty by 2024, said Nunung, considering the downward trend of the extreme poverty rate last year. "In March 2022, [extreme poverty rate] was at 2.04%, and in September 2022 the rate decreased to 1.74%," Nunung said.

The poverty rate also declined 0.62% from September 2022 to March 2023 at 1.12%. "So the decline is bigger [than the previous]," Nunung added.

According to Nunug, the result was achieved after the government applied several intervention measures such as social assistance in the form of the Family Hope Program, Indonesia Smart Card, Indonesia Health Card, and energy subsidy. 

In addition, the government also implemented an income improvement program for citizens in extreme poverty, as well as implementing affordable housing and access to clean water and sanitation.

"Those are several measures [to eradicate extreme poverty] and we are optimistic that in 2024, the poverty rate will reach 0% or a little bit more than 0% with a downward trend," Nunung said.

AMY HEPPY

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