President Joko Widodo has targeted extreme poverty rate of zero percent by 2024.Jakarta (ANTARA) - Extreme poverty cannot be resolved through just social assistance programs, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy has said.
"President Joko Widodo has targeted extreme poverty rate of zero percent by 2024. Hence, currently, the government is striving to overcome extreme poverty with various attempts," he stated in a written statement received here on Friday.
Extreme poverty is still a serious challenge for human development in Indonesia, he said.
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, Indonesia’s extreme poverty rate reached four percent of its total population or about 10.86 million people.
However, social assistance schemes were not enough to handle the problem as it also had to use the environmental approach, he added.
According to the coordinating minister, it is necessary to carry out regional development by building a livable environment as extremely underprivileged people tend to form groups and settle in slums.
"Hence, the areas with extreme poverty will be managed in an integrated way comprising using the environmental approaches, establishing decent houses, as well as building adequate sanitation and clean water," he informed.
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On Thursday, Effendy inspected the implementation of the City Without Slums (Kotaku) program in the 23rd Hamlet, Mojo village, Pasar Kliwon sub-district, Surakarta city, along with the mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
The program is one of several strategic efforts conducted by the Directorate General of Human Settlements at the Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Ministry to accelerate the management of slums in Indonesia and support the 100-0-100 Movement comprising 100 percent universal access to drinking water, zero percent slums, and 100 percent access to proper sanitation.
Furthermore, Effendy also lauded the development of the Kotaku program in Semanggi area, Surakarta. He encouraged the area to be used as a pilot model for handling urban slums in other regions.
"The mayor will continue the relocation and the place will be made into greenways whilst more livable houses will be built. The PUPR Minister’s staff has guaranteed that the project will be finished next year,” he continued.
On the same occasion, they also visited Semanggi Flat that was planned to rebuilt as the condition of the building is no longer suitable for living.
"It is a right policy since the building is no longer suitable for living. It is very dangerous as corrosion has occurred. I support it," the coordinating minister added.
In addition, he also checked the slums rearrangement for 569 underprivileged residents at Mojo village, Pasar Kliwon sub-district. The development is part of the local government's commitment to manage slums as well as being a national pilot project.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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