Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government is expanding the target for eradicating extreme poverty by 2022-end to 212 districts and cities, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said in a limited meeting at the Vice Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday.
"For 2022, the priority locations will be extended to 212 districts and cities," he informed in a statement received here on Wednesday.
He said that reducing extreme poverty is the government's priority agenda, and it is targeted to reach zero percent by the end of 2024.
Meanwhile, for 2021, the government is prioritizing the elimination of extreme poverty in 35 districts and cities located in seven provinces—West Java, Central Java, East Java, East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, Papua, and West Papua, he informed. The target is to bring the poverty rate to zero percent by the end of 2021, he said.
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"For 2021, extreme poverty alleviation is focused on seven provinces representing 2.1 million people (extremely poor). Of course, this is a very difficult task, considering that 2021 will end in three months," Amin observed.
Two major groups of programs are key for the government to eradicate extreme poverty in the community, he said.
The first is the distribution of social assistance and subsidies to reduce the expenditure burden on the extremely poor, he informed.
"The second is the empowerment program to increase productivity in order to increase their economic capacity," he added.
He then reminded all ministries and non-ministerial government institutions as well as local governments to work hard to resolve the issue of extreme poverty without delay.
"This target has become our promise to the community. Therefore, I reiterate again that we must work hard to ensure that the target is achieved," he said.
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