JAKARTA (1 November 2019) – The government's efforts to accelerate poverty reduction require contributions from all elements of society. Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara appreciated the various forms of community contributions to these government policies.

 "I appreciate all the community's efforts together with the government to accelerate poverty reduction. It would be better if efforts to reduce poverty by the community were carried out by the local strength of the community where the poor are," said the Minister of Social Affairs, in Jakarta, Friday (01/11/2019).

 The Minister's statement related to the figure of Captain Budi Soehardi. The figure who visited the Social Affairs Minister's office on Thursday (31/10/2019) was a former pilot who was willing to resign and then turn to cultivating arid land in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) into productive land.

 During the meeting, the Minister of Social Affairs was accompanied by the Minister's Expert Staff for Social Welfare Technology Harry Z. Soeratin, and the Minister's Senior Advisor for Social Change and Dynamics Asep Sasa Purnama.

 Budi Soehardi is a rare figure. Where he is willing to resign from his jobs with big salaries and luxurious facilities. But then it turned to empowering the less fortunate by processing arid land into productive land.

 “The cultivation of this land has succeeded in turning arid land into productive land that can be planted. In fact, from the results of planting, Pak Budi can help increase the income of the local community. This is a way to overcome poverty through empowerment, not charity," said the Minister of Social Affairs.

 The Minister of Social Affairs praised the steps that Budi had taken. According to the Minister of Social Affairs, what Budi is doing is in line with President Joko Widodo's hopes that we will continue to accelerate outreach and service to the needs of people in all corners of the country. "The form of cooperation in community empowerment must be adapted to each region," said the Minister of Social Affairs.

 As Budi did. The people of NTT should not go outside the area to develop their skills. They only need to receive guidance from a facilitator who comes directly to their area.

 "With the ability and willingness to empower others, the community will not only get out of pre-prosperous status but can also benefit by using their abilities and expertise," said the Minister of Social Affairs.

Budi Soehardi has developed an ecotourism area in Oenaek Village, NTT. Previously this area was known as a dry area and could not be cultivated because of low rainfall and the soil in this area was mixed with stones.

 But Budi Soehardi cultivated the land here and overcame the water shortage by building a large pond known as Embung Tesabela in Oenaek Village, NTT. The Tesabela Reservoir gets water from collecting rainwater, with a capacity of up to 12,000 cubic meters.

 

Acting Head of Public Relations Bureau

The Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs

Sonny W Manalu