East Java government plans to raise its budget allocated for poverty alleviation by Rp 250 billion, citing an increase in the number of low-income people.
Governor Soekarwo said Tuesday his administration had registered 439,000 more needy families this year to add to the existing low-income population which stands at 3.79 million.
“The government is responsible for their survival. If we do not overcome the poverty problem the number of poor will continue increasing,” Soekarwo said as quoted by Antara state news agency.
He added that with farmers the most vulnerable to poverty, the provincial government would focus its poverty alleviation program on the empowerment of the agricultural sector.
Taking an example, he said his administration would provide soft loans to cacao farmers in the regencies of Malang and Blitar to help them process and market their products, rather than selling them to factories.
| 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|