BPS: Poverty Decreased in S Kalimantan

By Syamsuddin Hasan

Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan (Antaranews) - The South Kalimantan Central Statistics Agency (BPS) revealed, in general the level of poverty in the province with a population of 3.6 million people has slightly decreased in the period of March to September 2013.

Head of South Kalimantan BPS, Agnes, here on Thursday said it the level of poverty in South Kalimantan has decreased from 4.77 percent (March 2013) to 4.76 percent (September 2013).

However, she said, in absolute terms, the number of poor people in urban areas increased as many as 8,918 people (out from 52,048 people in March 2013 to 60,966 people in September 2013).

While poor people in rural areas in the same period decreased by 7,384 persons (from 129,691 people in March 

2013 to 122,307 people in September 2013).

She added that the percentage of poor in urban in March 2013 amounted to 3.25 percent rose to 3.75 percent in September  2013. While the percentage of poor people in rural areas in province with an area of approximately 37,000 km2, down from 5.88 percent to 5.50 percent.

He explained that the role of food commodities on Poverty Line(GK) is still greater than the role of non-food 

commodities ( housing, clothing, education and health).