Fisherfolk live below poverty line

Fisherfolk live below poverty line

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar
Chamsyah has revealed that a large number of fishermen in
Indonesia still live below the poverty line, making their
economic empowerment imperative.

Speaking in Pagurawan village, Asahan regency, North Sumatra,
earlier this week, he said over 40 million people, including
fishermen, were classified as being poor, of whom 12 million were
destitute.

Bachtiar was on a visit to the village to deliver government
aid in the form of 10 fishing boats worth Rp 230 million to the
fishermen of Pagurawan, one of the poorest coastal villages in
the regency.

The minister pointed out, however, that their poverty was not
only due to a lack of capital and technology, but also resulted
from the propensity of fishermen their earnings in good times,
earnings that should be partly saved for their children's
education. --Antara