Social Minister Attended the Peak of the 2019 HKSN Commemoration

BANJARMASIN (July 24, 2019) - Minister of Social Affairs Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita expressed his confidence in the Province of South Kalimantan as the host of the National Social Solidarity Day (HKSN), in December 2019.

"We believe in the readiness of the Governor of South Kalimantan. Especially by seeing South Kalimantan already held several national events. (HKSN Moment) is the pride of the community. Indeed HKSN routinely activities every year. For the 2019 HSKN, both during planning and related activities there must be involvement of the younger generation, "said the Minister after holding the 2019 HKSN Commemoration Preparation Coordination Meeting with the Provincial Government of South Kalimantan, in Banjarmasin, Wednesday (07/24/2019).

South Kalimantan Province has indeed been carrying out and is preparing several national-scale activities, namely National Family Day, National Sports Day, and Mental Revolution Day. In front of the Minister of Social Affairs, South Kalimantan Governor Sahbirin Noor expressed readiness to host the peak of the 2019 HKSN commemoration.

As a routine activity every year, the Minister of Social Affairs once again reminded, so that in each series of activities useful and immediately felt the benefits by the community.

"It should be noted by us together that HKSN does not only belong to the social ministry, so that the involvement of all components of the nation is highly expected," said the Minister. The partnership that was built, said the Minister, was not just in the HKSN ceremony.

"Furthermore, we will work together, complement each other, complete shortcomings, build joint strength for the development of social welfare and humanity," said the Minister.

Expect the Presence of the President

In this meeting, the Minister of Social Affairs also stressed to all relevant parties to design this activity in such a way that it was appropriate to be attended by Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

"Let's make sure there is something appropriate for the presence of a President. Make a strong issue issue, and the benefits that also seem real to the community, directly. On the 2019 HKSN commemoration, I want something that reflects togetherness, caring, harmony, integration, so that the President is truly eligible to attend, "said the Minister.

The Minister of Social Affairs encouraged both the Central Committee and the Regional Committee to improve the quality of the holding of the 2019 HKSN commemoration in the South Kalimantan Province to be better than in previous years.

"Through 2019 HKSN, let's make it an effort to invite all components of the nation to be sensitive to social conditions, to care, to share, in an atmosphere of tolerance," said the Minister.

On different occasions, the Minister of Social Affairs also visited the Banjarmasin Center for Social Welfare Education and Training to open a Family Training Meeting (P2K2) or Family Development Session (FDS) training program.

After the event, the Social Minister told reporters that the government under the leadership of President Joko Widodo adopted a vision of inclusive development which was also reflected in an increase in the social protection budget.

"The social protection budget continues to increase, even amid a global economic slowdown and a tight budget posture," said the Minister. The social protection budget increased from Rp249.7 trillion in 2015 to Rp274.7 trillion in 2017 and Rp387.3 trillion in 2019.

According to the Minister, the government's hard and consistent efforts to fight poverty are not in vain. Referring to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) survey, Social Minister stated, the poverty rate fell to 9.41 percent in March 2019. Previously, in September 2018 the poverty rate was 9.66 percent.

"Experience in the world, reducing poverty alone is not an easy matter. Moreover, the decrease in poverty is accompanied by a decrease in the Gini ratio, "said the Minister.

Still quoting the BPS survey also, in March 2019, the level of inequality in expenditure of the Indonesian population (gini ratio) was 0.382. Or down 0.002 points when compared with the September 2018 Gini ratio of 0.384. "The data released is a trusted institution, BPS, not the Ministry of Social Affairs," he said.

Not only that, the Minister of Social Affairs also emphasized that the Social Aid program initiated by the Ministry of Social Affairs was also proven to have tangible benefits for PKH Beneficiary Families. "There is an independent and trusted institution, namely MicroSave where in the survey, it was stated that 93.2 percent of KPM PKH were satisfied with the social assistance program," said the Minister.

Social Minister stated, MicroSave is an independent institution. "The Ministry of Social Affairs does not fund surveys conducted by MicroSave at all, so the credibility of the results of the survey can be trusted," said the Minister.

With a number of important achievements, the Ministry of Social Affairs will increase the number of integrated KPM-PKH. If in 2019 this is targeted at 800,000, it will be increased to 1 million integrated PKH KPM by 2020.

The Minister emphasized that the target setting was in line with President Jokowi's determination to continue to reduce poverty in Indonesia.

Also present to accompany the Minister of Social Affairs in the Minister of Social Affairs working visit to Prov. South Kalimantan; Inspector General, Director General of Social Empowerment, Director General of Social Rehabilitation, Head of Social Welfare Education and Training Agency, Head of Public Relations Bureau and related echelon II officials

Head of the Public Relations Bureau of the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs

Sonny W. Manalu