Indonesia, India Explore Povert Alleviation Cooperation

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The governments of Indonesia and India are currently exploring cooperation in poverty alleviation to improve the quality of life of the people of both countries, according to Indian envoy. "A joint poverty alleviation effort has been done, and so far I have communicated it with several related ministers in Indonesia," Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Gurjit Singh said here on Monday night. Singh noted that in spite of having different character of poverty problem, the to countries could share to the way how to eradicate the poverty together. "There is certainly a different character but the more we get input, the better we try to alleviate the poverty problem," the Indian envoy noted. According to India's Planning Commission, the poverty in the country has dropped sharply due to welfare programs. From 2004-2005 to 2009-2010, the poverty rate fell from 37.2 percent to 29.8 percent, which means around 360 million people currently live in poverty. Rural poverty has declined faster than urban poverty during this period. The Planning Commission said the main reason for the reduction in poverty was the government's increased spending on rural welfare programs. While for Indonesia, according to the latest release of Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), the number of people living below the poverty line has declined from 29.13 million in March 2012 to 28.59 million in September the same year. Thus through the cooperation, the Indian ambassador to Indonesia expressed hope that the two countries could make a significant progress as the growing economic power in the world. Singh also hoped direct flight service between Indonesia and India this year. (*)