The handling not only needs to be carried out by providing assistance, but also conducting various environmental improvement programs
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Regional Infrastructure Development Agency (BPIW) of the Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Ministry has said it will undertake infrastructure interventions in several prioritized villages to deal with extreme poverty in Indonesia.

"Still, more valid data is required to determine the priority locations where the infrastructure will be established," head of BPIW, Rachman Arief Dienaputra, said in a written statement received here on Friday.

Only some priority villages will be selected for infrastructure handling since the ministry’s budget is limited, he added.

The national poverty reduction policy involves diminishing poverty enclaves by increasing access to basic services and improving inter-region connectivity, he informed.


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The ministry is implementing the policy through the Community-Based Infrastructure Program (IBM), which is being conducted under the Directorate General of Human Settlements and Housing Renovation Assistance Program (BSPS) launched by the Directorate General of Housing.

Currently, the ministry has obtained quite complete data in the form of tabulated data, Dienaputra informed. Furthermore, it will gradually add By Name By Address (BNBA) data from the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN), he said.

The government is striving to accelerate the reduction of extreme poverty and stunting in 212 districts/cities throughout Indonesia by 2022, he noted.

This initiative was announced during the Coordination Meeting for Data and Locus Preparation for Handling Extreme Poverty in 2022, which was held by the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, he said.


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Meanwhile, deputy for the coordination of social welfare improvement at the coordinating ministry, Andi Megantara, said that President Joko Widodo is targeting the elimination of extreme poverty and stunting in Indonesia by 2024.

Hence, the ministry has developed several instruments to address these problems by synergizing the programs of ministries and agencies, he informed.

Extreme poverty and stunting need to be solved simultaneously through various sectors, he added.

"The handling not only needs to be carried out by providing assistance, but also conducting various environmental improvement programs," he said.

The implementation of the programs would involve the ministry, he added.


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Translator: Aji Cakti, Uyu Liman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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