Regions to draw up poverty alleviation program<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
As part of efforts to intensify poverty alleviation, the
\ngovernment would leave it to regional administrations to draw up
\npolicies to reduce poverty in their respective area.<\/p>\n
"Given that the characteristics and potency of each region
\nvaries, it is they (the regional administrations) who know best
\nhow to create strategies to alleviate poverty (in their areas)
\nbased on their own potency.<\/p>\n
"The central government will focus its support in the form of
\nconsultancy. We shall facilitate regions to do what is necessary
\nfor their respective regions," a press release said.<\/p>\n
The release was drawn up from a joint statement issued after
\nthe completion of a national meeting on poverty eradication held
\non March 25-27 in Yogyakarta, a copy of which was made available
\nto The Jakarta Post on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The meeting was organized by Coordinating Minister for
\nPeople's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, who is the chairman of the national
\nPoverty Alleviation Committee, and was attended by, among others,
\nCoordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti,
\nBank Indonesia governor Sjahril Sabirin and Minister of Finance
\nBoediono.<\/p>\n
The release said that by allowing the regions to draw up their
\nown poverty alleviation programs, the government hoped the pace
\nof poverty alleviation in the country, which was considered too
\nslow over the past years, could be sped up.<\/p>\n
The centralized policy on the matter is widely believed to
\nhave contributed to the mediocre performance, as the policy set
\nby the central government did not fit for all regions as each has
\nunique characteristics.<\/p>\n
Currently, the country's poverty rate stands at around 18
\npercent, far better than the around 24 percent of the population
\nin 1998 when the country was hit hard by the devastating
\nfinancial crisis.<\/p>\n
Under the country's five-year economic guidelines (Propenas),
\nthe government has targeted reducing the poverty rate to 14
\npercent by 2004.<\/p>\n
Analysts have said the government should boost economic growth
\nto help reduce poverty.<\/p>\n
They said the country's economy should grow more than 3
\npercent to 4 percent annually to absorb an estimated 2.5 million
\npeople entering the job market each year. Thus, high economic
\ngrowth will reduce poverty.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's poverty trend<\/p>\n
from 1999 to 2002<\/p>\n
(%)<\/p>\n
------------------------------------------------------
\nPoverty rate by region 1999 2002*
\n------------------------------------------------------<\/p>\n
- Java-Bali 27.9 15.1<\/p>\n
- Sumatra (excpt. Aceh) 20.1 14.7<\/p>\n
- Kalimantan 22.9 14.0<\/p>\n
- Sulawesi 25.1 18.1<\/p>\n
- Eastern Indonesia<\/p>\n
(exc. Maluku, Papua) 51.4 36.8
\n-------------------------------------------------------
\n* Preliminary figures
\nSource: World Bank<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/regions-to-draw-up-poverty-alleviation-program-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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