Govt Aims To Reduce Poverty Rate

Nusa Dua (Antara Bali) - The government has set itself a target to reduce Indonesia¿s poverty rate from the current 11 percent to 8 percent by 2014.

"The poverty rate is expected to reduce to 8 or at least 10 percent by 2014," Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri said here on Thursday.

Around 30 million Indonesians live below the poverty line, accounting for about 11 percent of the country¿s total population of 240 million, he noted.

Indonesia has approximately 4.5 million neglected children and 2.8 million elderly people.

The government has stepped up efforts to fight poverty, through its poverty reduction program, by providing financial assistance but with conditions attached, Salim stated.

"One of the conditions is that the mothers must send their children to schools and take them to integrated health posts (posyandu) regularly," the minister said.(*/DWA/T007)