The government applies various policies to reduce the extreme poverty rate in 212 regions in Indonesia in 2022, Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto said on Tuesday.
At the Regional Economy Acceleration to Expedite National Recovery Seminar, he noted that one of the policies proven to be effective to curb the poverty rate was the social protection program within the National Economic Recovery (PEN) Program.
The policy to eradicate poverty through the social protection program has managed to reduce the poverty rate, from 10.14 percent in March 2021 to 9.71 percent in September 2021.
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The poverty rate in Indonesia continues to decline starting from March 2015, with 11.22 percent, and 11.13 percent in September; followed by 10.86 percent in March 2016 and 10.7 percent in September.
The decline continued in March 2017, with 10.64 percent, and 10.12 percent in September; 9.82 percent in March 2018 and 9.66 percent in September; and thereafter 9.41 percent in March 2019 and 9.22 percent in September.
However, this downward trend came to a halt in 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic struck Indonesia that could be observed from the rise in the poverty rate to reach 9.78 percent in March 2020 and 10.19 percent in September.
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However, the poverty rate started to recover in March 2021 reaching 10.14 percent and 9.71 percent in September, as the government continued to expedite the social protection program.
The realization of the social protection program reached Rp171 trillion, or 91.5 percent, from the Rp186.64-trillion budget ceiling that was given to 1.16 million recipients in 35 priority districts to eradicate extreme poverty.
Meanwhile, the people protection program in 2022 has a budget ceiling of Rp154.8 trillion to continue the social aid programs, such as the Family Hope Program (PKH), Work Termination Insurance, Village Cash Assistance (BLT), and Pre-employment card.
The budget will also be utilized to prepare for the expansion of social protection.
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Editor : Mahdani
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