The Decreased Poverty Rate In The Jokowi Era Is Not Significant, Social Assistance Is Considered Ineffective

AMIN/PHOTO national team: Diah Ayu-VOI

JAKARTA - The National Team for Winning Anies-Muhaimin (Timnas AMIN) highlighted the poverty reduction rate during President Joko Widodo's administration which was said to have not decreased significantly.

Taking data from the Central Statistics Agency, Anggota Dewan Pertimbangan Timnas AMIN Awalil Rizky revealed that the number of poor people from September 2014 to March 2023 only decreased by 1.83 million people.

Awalil also compared with the leadership of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), where the number of poor people from 2004 to March 2013 decreased by 8.08 million people.

"Despite the COVID-19, the poverty in the era of the President Jokowi only decreased by 1.83 million people. The percentage was only reduced by 1.60 percent. Compared to the SBY government, the reduction was 8 million or 5.29 (percent)," said Awalil at the AMIN Change House, South Jakarta, Friday, February 3.

Awalil indicated that this condition was caused by the target recipients of social assistance who were still not right. This, he continued, was seen from the data from the National Socio-Economic Survey (Susenas) in March 2023.

From this data, the realization of recipients of Prosperous Family Card Assistance (KKS), Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT), Smart Indonesia Program (PIP), and Family Hope Program (PKH) for the lower economic community is less than 60 percent.

"This is an indication that the social protection program is not quite effective. What has happened. It should be theoretical, at least 80 percent of it is for 1 and 2, or 1 to 4. So there are tens of millions of targets (receivers of assistance) that can be repaired," said Awalil.

Meanwhile, economist The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) Rizal Taufiqurrarahman assessed that the current distribution of social assistance cannot effectively reduce poverty.

"The social assistance is not effective in reducing poverty. In fact, what is quite effective is an increase in income because it will boost consumption. This is more sustainable," he explained.