"If, this year, extreme poverty in 212 regencies and cities can be addressed, then in the following years, it will be carried out more quickly, and the target of zero-percent extreme poverty in 2024 can be achieved. The role of local governments is very vital in this regard,” he noted a statement in Jakarta on Thursday.
He highlighted that eradicating extreme poverty was a mandate of Law No. 13 of 2011 on handling the poor.
The mandate of the law is implemented in several derivative regulations, including Presidential Decree No. 96 of 2015 concerning Acceleration of Poverty Reduction and Presidential Instruction No. 4 of 2022 on Acceleration of the Elimination of Extreme Poverty.
Moeldoko noted that the government had, since 2021, intensified the program to tackle extreme poverty in stages, specifically in 35 regencies and cities in seven provinces. This year, extreme poverty reduction was focused in 25 provinces and 212 regencies and cities.
He emphasized that the Poverty Reduction Coordination Team (TKPK) at the regional level had a strategic role to play in coordinating policy formulation, implementing, planning, and monitoring.
“This TKPK has accurate data on which areas have pockets of poverty. Hence, we can directly map out what programs or activities can be implemented to reduce poverty,” Moeldoko stated.
"Based on the mapping, various programs, both from the central and regional levels, can be directed to the groups of extreme poor," he remarked.
Moeldoko reminded that Presidential Instruction Number 4 of 2022 was a presidential order to 22 ministers, eight heads of institutions, the TNI commander, governors, head of districts, and mayors whose implementation was coordinated by the vice president as chair of the National Team for the Acceleration of Poverty Reduction.
“The president instructed all programs to be right on target and there must be program integration between ministries and agencies. The local government, as the spearhead, must be able to orchestrate these programs on the field,” Moeldoko stated.
The National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) will prepare the family data to support the program for eradicating extreme poverty in line with President Joko Widodo's directives.
"The National Population and Family Planning Agency is ready to support the program to push for the eradication of extreme poverty in accordance with Presidential Instruction No. 4 of 2022 regarding acceleration of the elimination of extreme poverty," head of the agency Hasto Wardoyo earlier stated.
He made the statement after issuance of the presidential instruction at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture.
In accordance with the instruction, the agency is required to prepare family data that will be used to determine policies to address extreme poverty issues, including stunting.
Moreover, it is mandated with preparing and providing services for family development programs, population and family planning, as well as stunting reduction efforts for extremely poor families.
The presidential instruction, stipulated on June 8, 2022, instructs 22 ministries, six institutions, and regional governments to implement the required measures according to their respective duties, functions, and authorities, he stated.
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Related news: BKKBN to prepare data to support extreme poverty eradication
Translator: Rangga P, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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