This will be a tough challenge, as we do not have much time left.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The target to reduce extreme poverty by 20 percent in 2021 in seven provinces would be the toughest challenge for the government, according to Vice President Ma'ruf Amin.

"For 2021, we have targeted to (eradicate extreme poverty) in 35 districts and cities in seven provinces. This is the toughest target on account of the current challenging situation. However, we will do the utmost," Amin stated here on Thursday.

The seven provinces are West Java, Central Java, East Java, Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara, West Papua, and Papua. Five districts and cities in the respective provinces have recorded a high rate of extreme poverty.

The National Team for the Acceleration of Poverty Reduction (TNP2K) has set a target to reduce extreme poverty by 20 percent in 2021, or some 2.1 million of the total 10.86 million people living in extreme poverty in Indonesia.

"This will be a tough challenge, as we do not have much time left," he stated.

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The extreme poverty rate would be further reduced by 35 percent in 2022 and 2023 respectively and 10 percent in 2024.

According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the extreme poverty rate in the country had reached four percent of the population, or some 10.86 million. However, poverty rate, in general, had reached 10.14 percent, or some 27.54 million, as of March 2021.

President Joko Widodo has targeted to reduce the extreme poverty rate to zero percent by 2024.

According to the World Bank's standard of poverty, people with earning less than US$1.91 per day are classified as those living under the extreme poverty line.

The World Bank projects the global extreme poverty to increase to 88 million to 115 million in 2021 as an impact of economic contraction in several countries due to the COVID-9 pandemic.

In 2020, the global extreme poverty rate had reached its record high in the past two decades, the World Bank stated.
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Translator: Fransiska N, Sri Haryati
Editor: Suharto
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