Vice Minister Budi Arie: Poverty Level In Villages Increases By 5 Million People

Illustration (Photo: Chastagner Thierry on Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Villages for Disadvantaged Areas and Transmigration Budi Arie Setiadi revealed that there was an increase in the poverty rate in the village during the COVID-19 Pagebluk. From the previous 19.97 million to 20.06 million.

"COVID-19 has resulted in the emergence of more than 5 million 'New Poor People' in villages throughout Indonesia," said Budi Arie at the Desbumi Webinar with the theme 'Efforts to Protect Rural Economics and Protection of Migrant Workers', quoted Thursday, June 17.

However, said Budi, positive cases of COVID-19 in villages were much smaller than cities. So, this can make the village economy get up and recover faster.

"The potential for rural economic movement is enormous to support national economic recovery," said Budi.

This is because, in addition to the social safety net program (JPS) including direct cash assistance for village funds (BLT DD), rural areas have the potential for food security programs, transforming and revitalizing BUMDES with various superior village products.

"Including the village cash-intensive labor program to increase the purchasing power of the community especially in the village," said Budi.

On this occasion, the Deputy Minister said that his party is working with various ministries and institutions. lsinnya, carry out an agricultural intensification program on 1, 8 million hectares of transmigration land. Besides being useful for maintaining food security, it also reduces dependence on imports, especially for food products.

"We must be independent. The nation is capable. Villages can be counted on to produce them," said Budi.