Minister Tito to Revise Low-Income Definition and Remove Domicile Barriers for 3 Million Homes Programme
Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Tito Karnavian and Minister of Housing and Residential Areas (PKP) Maruarar Sirait will revise the definition of low-income groups (MBR) to support the 3 million houses programme. Additionally, Tito will provide legal certainty for citizens with different domiciles to access housing programmes.
According to a written statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the income threshold for MBR, which was previously a maximum of Rp7 million per month for unmarried individuals, will be increased to Rp8.5 million. This effort is intended to allow the programme to target a wider segment of society. Furthermore, citizens wishing to access the housing programme will no longer be restricted by the domicile listed on their national identity card (KTP).
“We will revise it again, because Mr Ara [Minister of PKP] wants to expand the definition of low-income communities,” said Tito following an event for the Socialisation of Collaboration in Housing Finance Programmes and People’s Economic Empowerment at Lapangan Persima, Tambora, West Jakarta, on Monday (15/6).
Tito stated that he has been coordinating steps with regional heads and implementing policies such as waiving Land and Building Transfer Duty (BPHTB) and Building Approval (PBG) levies for MBR. Alongside Maruarar, Tito also routinely conducts direct inspections of recipients of the Self-Help Housing Stimulant Assistance (BSPS) programme, also known as the ‘house renovation’ programme, including inspections in the Tambora area, West Jakarta.
“Everything is moving through direct door-to-door visits, seeing the field directly, and touching the people directly. It is not based on information, let alone from behind a desk,” he said.
The Minister of Home Affairs noted that the Tambora area is one of the most densely populated regions in Indonesia, with many substandard houses. He personally observed a small house occupied by 10 people.
He added that field visits with the Minister of PKP are frequently conducted, such as in early June in Bantul, Yogyakarta. Previous visits were made to Southeast Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, and the border areas of North Sulawesi.
“President Prabowo’s programme, including this housing programme, truly reaches the people because of his care for the lower class. This is real; I have accompanied Mr Ara [Minister of PKurity] on more than just this one occasion,” said Tito.