"Based on calculations by Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the national poverty rate was 9.36 percent, while the 2020-2024 National Medium Term Plan target is 6.5 to 7.5 percent," he remarked while chairing a ministerial-level meeting on the development of the accelerated poverty alleviation program in Jakarta on Thursday.
Hence, at the meeting, he sought inputs and real planning since the country only has seven to eight months left until the target achievement deadline.
"The clock is ticking," he reminded.
Amin emphasized that the government should regulate a series of special policies through programs in ministries and agencies, regional governments, and non-governmental support to achieve the poverty rate of 7.5 percent by 2024.
"For extreme poverty alleviation, we must strive for a target of reaching zero percent. I will ask for a report from the coordinating minister," he remarked.
On that occasion, he also presented various government performance achievements in the last five years to tackle the problem of poverty, starting from expanding social assistance and conducting innovative community income programs through labor market policies and mobilizing social protection during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Until finally, we are able to maintain the poverty rate below 10 percent," he remarked.
The meeting also discussed several challenges faced by the government, including the accuracy of the target of the aid program, accuracy of the amount and time of distribution, as well as implementation of the assistance program for priority families, who are at the lowest position of the welfare level.
Other attendees at the meeting were Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani, Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini, Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah, and Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Teten Masduki.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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