Press Extreme Poverty, Bekasi Regency Government Allocates IDR 30 Billion

Portrait of slum settlements in Tambun Selatan District, Bekasi Regency, West Java. (ANTARA)

BEKASI - The Bekasi Regency Government (Pemkab), West Java allocated a budget of IDR 30 billion for efforts to alleviate the problem of poverty in the area by reducing extreme poverty and developing or stunting diseases.

"The value is around Rp. 30 billion spread across a number of regional apparatus to reduce poverty," said Bekasi Regent Dani Ramdan as quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, March 19.

He said that this year's poverty alleviation program financing was pursued through activities to provide food and logistics assistance, as well as special programs for the Health Office in reducing stunting rates.

Local governments are waiting for the socio-economic registration process to be completed in order to maximize poverty alleviation programs.

"If April data has been dropped from the central government, later based on the reference the data center will match the name and address. So we can optimally provide assistance because it is right on target, the data is based on verification results from below," he said.

Head of the Bekasi District Social Service Endin Samsudin said special assistance had been given to elderly residents and severe disabilities in the form of food and food packages such as rantang rice.

"It is impossible for them to be given capital assistance given the limitations they have. That's why we distribute food packages for them," he said.

His party also provides training and briefing to some people to have the expertise they hope to be able to help grow the economic sector.

Meanwhile, Head of the Bekasi Regency Manpower Office, Edy Rochyadi, stated that he was committed to providing job opportunities for residents as an effort to reduce poverty.

"We continue to optimize providing job training through work training centers and internship programs, providing job opportunities. At least last year there were 16,000 workers distributed through this program. This year we are trying to provide more job opportunities for the community," he said.