Minister Risma Outlines Border Area Poverty Reduction Strategies to Police Officers

JAKARTA (4 July 2024) - The Minister of Social Affairs, Tri Rismaharini, prioritizes poverty reduction in Indonesia's border areas. Poverty in these regions, for example, has the ability to undermine national unity and cohesiveness.

"If people in border areas believe the government is not reaching out to them, they are easily convinced by various groups to secede from Indonesia. That is why the Ministry of Social Affairs is focusing on poverty reduction in the country's border areas," Minister Risma said while speaking to 19 police officers at the visit of the Professional Work Lecture III for Students of the 33rd Indonesian National Police Staff and High Leadership School (Sespimti), Academic Year 2024. This event occurred in the Meeting Room on the 2nd floor of the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) in Jakarta on Thursday (7/4). The panel's topic was "Readiness of the Police, Military, and other Government Agencies in Facing Food Security and Poverty.”

On this occasion, Minister Risma presented two MoSA strategies to reduce poverty in the country's border areas. The first strategy is to minimize the financial burden on communities in these regions through various social assistance programs. These include the Food Program for the Elderly and Persons with Disability Living Alone, the construction of solar-powered clean water treatment facilities, the development of Integrated Welfare Houses (RST), assistance with electric motorcycles and boats, and the establishment of social granaries. "We also involve local youngsters in the maintenance of the training programs we've put in place to ensure sustainability. We ask them to manufacture the things themselves, but we pay them," Minister Risma added, citing examples of young people producing earthquake-resistant bricks and electric boats.

In addition to reducing the financial burden on communities, Minister Risma's next strategy is to increase income through the Nusantara Economic Heroes (PENA) program. "The PENA program helps underprivileged communities establish a source of income through entrepreneurship. So, in addition to giving basic assistance, we help them become self-sufficient through PENA," Minister Risma explained.

At the end of the event, Brigadier General Yustan Alpiani of the Sespimti Polri Team expressed his gratitude to Minister Risma for the strategies and programs she provided. "Thank you, Minister, for enlightening us." Hopefully, we will be able to integrate what you have mentioned. "We hope for field cooperation so that border issues can be resolved," Yustan stated.