SMALL Imports Of Dahlan Iskan's Poverty Reduction Solution In History Today, July 14, 2012

JAKARTA Memories of today, 13 years ago, July 14, 2012, the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), Dahlan Iskan, had a unique idea to alleviate poverty. He tried to discuss the policy of importing rabbits from China. The presence of the rabbits is considered an additional money solution for poor families.

Previously, the Indonesian government was active in making poverty alleviation programs. The government wants to increase people's lives. The problem is that not all poverty alleviation programs run smoothly.

Poverty is a serious problem experienced by many developing countries. The high or low poverty rate can determine the prosperity of a country. If the poverty rate is high, it will surely bring great disgrace to the international community.

Indonesia also does not want the poverty rate to increase. The government of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) will not approve it. This condition made the government immediately move to run many poverty alleviation programs.

Among other things, the National Program for the Empowerment of Independent Communities (PNPM) to the Family Hope Program (PKH). Not to mention the poor rice program and so on. The government considers this step can encourage people who are under the poverty line to move forward.

Problems arise. Efforts to run poverty alleviation programs are clearly not easy. Moreover, the poor are scattered from various regions of the archipelago. This condition makes the poverty alleviation program from the government get a lot of criticism.

"Economic growth is high, but it is not driven by growth in the community. Increase the coverage of the area and the amount of assistance is also if you want to reduce poverty," said Director of the SMERU Research Institute, Asep Surhayadi as quoted on the tempo.co page, July 23, 2011.

The government is required to expand the coverage of its program. The attention given should not be half-hearted. Everything so that the desired results are achieved. Instead of trying to widen the absorption, Dahlan Iskan actually has other ideas.

The SOE minister tried to come up with a unique idea for a poverty alleviation solution on July 9, 2012. He tried to discuss the import of rabbits from China. He wants to import male rabbits so that later he will marry a local female rabbit.

He has his own considerations regarding his idea. He considers importing rabbits is a powerful way to alleviate poverty. This condition is because rabbits are easy to maintain. Dahlan will distribute rabbits to the villagers. Dahlan has his own calculation.

If one family maintains 50 rabbits, he estimates that one family's income can reach Rp. 2 million per month. This amount is considered large enough to lift the family's economy. Not to mention that the kelinggi meat can be a solution in the midst of the high price of beef.

Dahlan's idea is not easy to accept. Many have questioned the seriousness of being the Minister of SOEs. There are also those who criticized him for not being able to take advantage of the ministerial position with a broad coverage to prosper the Indonesian people.

"Because the rabbits keep them easy. This is also not only overcoming the soaring price of beef, but also able to eradicate the poor," Dahlan said after a working meeting with Commission VI of the DPR RI in Jakarta as quoted by the COMPASS.com page, July 9, 2012.