Describing Poverty Challenges, TNP2K's Secretariat Visits Tempo Magazine

26 August 2014

Following the delivery of a detailed work report to the vice president on 12 August 2014, the TNP2K’s Secretariat visited the office of Tempo magazine today (26 August 2014) to present and discuss with its editorial board poverty reduction efforts made during the SBY-Boediono administration and challenges faced by the new government.

TNP2K Executive Secretary Bambang Widianto described the work conducted by TNP2K, including the development of the Unified Database (BDT), Social Assistance Card (KPS) and TNP2K’s role in policy improvements for social assistance programmes, such as BSM (Cash Transfers for Poor Students), Raskin (subsidised rice), and PKH (Family Hope Programme). Widianto also spoke of TNP2K’s support for the National Health Insurance (JKN) programme, the National Programme for Community Empowerment (PNPM), as well as pilot tests for Improving Teacher Accountability and Education Outcomes in Remote Areas (KIAT Guru).

The team explained that one of TNP2K’s primary mandates was to develop a Unified Database that contained the names and addresses of the 40% of Indonesians with the lowest levels socio-economic welfare. In addition to producing lists of names and addresses, data BDT can be disseminated for regional analysis. BDT variables can be accessed online at www.tnp2k.go.id.

"The basic idea for developing the BDT was so that the poor could receive a multiple levels of assistance from social programmes at the same time. For those who receive only partial help, they will find it difficult to escape from poverty,” said Widianto. Prior to the BDT, he added, less than 30% of poor people received all three social protection programmes at the same time: BSM, Raskin and Unconditional Cash Transfers (BLSM).

With BDT, the SBY-Boediono administration was able to launch the KPS when the government raised fuel prices in 2013. KPS became an effective way of disseminating BLSM, BSM and Raskin benefits. KPS cards were valid 2013-2014, and were sent to 15.5 million poor and vulnerable households, equal to 25% of Indonesians with the lowest levels of socio-economic welfare.

"KPS cards were given to poor households, and became the first card launched by the Indonesian government that could be used to access benefits from multiple social assistance programme," explained Widianto.

Widianto said that despite a fall of 4.25 million in the number of poor during the last five years, the overall total remains high at 28.28 million Indonesians living in poverty. In addition, inequality is rising. As such, the incoming government must make poverty alleviation a priority.

"Efforts to reduce poverty cannot stand alone, but must be coupled with efforts to control the poverty line, which is strongly influenced by fluctuation in food prices. Our inability to control inflation caused by rising food prices raises the poverty line, leading to greater numbers of poor, "said Widianto.

During the visit, Widianto was accompanied by TNP2K’s Head Policy Advisor Dr. Sudarno Sumarto, Chairman of the Social Protection Working Group Sri Kusumastuti Rahayu, Head of the Unified Database Octovianus Tjiantoro, KIAT Guru Programme Coordinator Dewi Susanti, among others. From Tempo was National and Legal Executive Editor Budi Setyarso and a various other editors.