The president has asserted that there will be zero-percent chronic poverty, for which village data is deemed necessary
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration Minister (Mendes PDTT) Abdul Halim Iskandar laid emphasis on the importance of the Village Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) data in alleviating chronic poverty.

"Steps that the vice president is taking and will take is a follow-up of the president's directive, so that in 2024, Indonesia will be free from chronic poverty," Iskandar noted in a written statement received here on Tuesday.

"The president has asserted that there will be zero-percent chronic poverty, for which village data is deemed necessary," he stated.

Iskandar stressed on the importance of updating the Village SDGs data to clearly observe the data of people living in chronic poverty with various problems in villages in real time.

With this, the fund allocation to handle chronic poverty in villages can be more effective and accurate, according to the minister.

"If micro data is used in the handling of chronic poverty, then it will be more accurate and measured and will become transparent in terms of its achievement," Iskandar remarked.

He stated that village fund budget was derived from the state budget (APBN), so its utilization should support the national priority program and policy, which was to alleviate chronic poverty.

The minister expressed optimism that the amount of budget for the 2022 village fund would not decrease and remain unchanged at Rp72 trillion to address the problem of chronic poverty in villages.

"This is because the tasks for villages are increasing, including that mandated by the president, so that in 2024, Indonesia would be free from chronic poverty," he elaborated.

Iskandar also noted that the Village Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMDes) should adhere to the Village SDGs.

Related news: Indonesia's poverty eradication efforts to cover 212 regions in 2022
Related news: Social assistance not enough to eradicate extreme poverty: minister
Related news: Manpower Ministry outlines strategy for reducing poverty

Translator: Zubi Mahrofi, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2021