TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Development Planning Minister Bambang Brojonegoro is confident that Indonesia will be free from poverty by 2045.
"We estimate that on Indonesia's 100th year of independence—or sooner—there will be no poverty," the minister said at the 2nd ICIED event at the DoubleTree Hotel in Jakarta, Monday, August 14.
The optimism is based on the fact that Indonesia's economy continues to improve. He said that in the 1970s, 60 percent of the population lived below the poverty line. That figure was reduced to 11.3 percent in 1996.
After the reformation took place, the poverty rate was curbed gradually until it reached 10.6 percent in March this year.
"It did jump to 24.2 percent in 1998, but that was due to a multidimensional crisis that took place at that time," he said.
Indonesia's long-term development plan (RPJP) for the period of 2005-2025, as set out in Law No. 17/2007, targets to have 0 percent poverty rate by 2045. Bambang said the target will be achieved by sharpening policy targets and delivery mechanism—ensuring that they reach the poor.
Subsidies also need to be adjusted on a regular basis so that they are enjoyed by those who actually need it. It is also important to have policies that will alleviate poverty, covering the education, health, and economic sectors. Other important policies include fair and equal wealth and income distribution.
Some efforts to reduce income disparities are through agrarian reforms, agricultural development, and training human resources.
M. JULNIS FIRMANSYAH | WAWAN PRIYANTO
