Budimanta expressed the hope that the Mekaar program will remain sustainable in terms of program convergence, data utilization, and target.
Banyuwangi, East Java (ANTARA) - Advisor to the President, Arif Budimanta, has said that the Family Prosperous Economy (Mekaar) program of PT PNM is playing a vital role in eradicating extreme poverty nationally.

"There is a role of the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and the private sector in increasing (people's) income. Here, there are 30 women who are part of the Mekaar program, who are different in terms of economic capabilities," he said in a Mekaar participants gathering at Telemung Village, East Java, Friday.

However, despite their economic differences, the women have mutually helped each other, he highlighted. Meanwhile, some of the women can now take out bigger loans because their businesses are growing.

"Thus, there is the capability to pay and repayment capacity because the business is growing and is assessed by PNM Mekaar," he said.

He added that the PNM Mekaar participants' ability to pay off loans shows that there has been an increase in income and welfare. This means that the PNM Mekaar empowerment program has played a role in supporting the extreme poverty elimination program.

"This means that the President's target of extreme poverty eradication that is carried out based on multi-stakeholder involvement and mutual cooperation is realized," he said.

Budimanta expressed the hope that the Mekaar program will remain sustainable in terms of program convergence, data utilization, and target.

"Because people who have come out of extreme poverty may still be in the poor category. We hope that they will continue to move up the (social) class and not go back down," he said.

According to him, the government is seeking to uplift the extremely poor and poor through many programs including social protection, economic empowerment, and home renovation programs.

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Translator: Aji C, Kenzu
Editor: Arie Novarina
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