Minister of National Development Planning urges regions to oversee MBG and People's Schools to address poverty

Bengkulu (ANTARA) - The Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas, Rachmat Pambudy, has urged local governments to oversee central government programmes from the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) to the construction of People’s Schools as part of efforts to address poverty. “The poverty conditions in this region must continue to be tackled, and poverty alleviation is part of the President’s programme, starting from the construction of People’s Schools, the construction of hospitals, and also MBG must continue to be monitored,” said the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas), Rachmat Pambudy, in Bengkulu on Thursday. “(The highest priority) direction from the President concerns human resources, nutritious meals, People’s Schools, health, and education. After that, infrastructure is also very important,” he added. The Minister of PPN/Bappenas, Rachmat Pambudy, conveyed this during a coordination meeting with local governments across Bengkulu Province. Bengkulu, he said, is also important in monitoring various human resource enhancement programmes being implemented by the central government, especially since the poverty rate in the province, nicknamed the Red White Land, is still significantly higher than the national poverty rate. The national poverty rate stands at 8 per cent, while Bengkulu Province remains in double digits, at around 12 per cent. Through various human resource enhancement programmes, such as MBG, People’s Schools, health improvements, as well as a focus on infrastructure and stimulation of the local economic sector, it is hoped that the poverty rate can be reduced.