"We believe the target is achievable given that according to Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) data the poverty rate today is around 13 percent," Rusli Wahid, the ministry`s social empowerment and poverty eradication director general, said here Wednesday.
The ministry would intensify the implementation of the poverty eradication programs among other things through the Family of Hope Program (PKH) and the Common Business Group Program (Kube), he said.
The social affairs ministry had carried out the two programs for the past several years, including in a number of regions.
"The poverty eradication program that we are implementing will last for six years and it has produced encouraging results," he said.
The ministry has allocated funds amounting Rp1.6 trillion for addressing the poverty problem during 2011, by helping around 1,116 very poor households in around 20 provinces.
The money will also be used to hep poor pregnant women and school-aged children.
The six-year program is expected to cut off the poverty chains so that parents would not pass down their poor condition to their children, according to Rusli Wahid.
The Kube program for poor families provides Rp20 million for each group consisting of 10 people.The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) comprise eight goals that emerged from the 2000 Millennium Summit of world leaders in New York.
Indonesia is one of countries which have committed to meeting the MDGs.
The MDGs provide a set of time-bound and measurable targets for combating poverty, hunger, illiteracy, disease, discrimination against women, and environmental degradation. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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