Social Minister Agus Gumiwang Post-Earthquake Lombok Rehabilitation Commitment

INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - The newly inaugurated Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said it was necessary to immediately make efforts in the framework of the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Lombok after the earthquake.

 "For the short term, we need to immediately carry out rehabilitation of Lombok after the earthquake disaster," Agus said in the handover ceremony at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Jakarta, Friday (07/23/2018)

He is concerned about the disaster that hit Lombok which has caused various losses and damage and loss mainly for the people of Lombok and surrounding areas.

"The shock of a continuous earthquake that has damaged the social joints of our compatriots here and there," he said.

Agus said he and a number of staff from the Ministry of Social Affairs planned to leave for Lombok on Saturday (25/8) to monitor conditions in the field.

 "Tomorrow, the Ministry of Social Affairs will leave for Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara to see what developments there are because frankly this is a new task for me. I will make a number of 'checklists' there, including we see nothing short of things," he said.

Agus said all stakeholders must work together in the field to accelerate rehabilitation and reconstruction in Lombok.

As the new social minister, Agus said he would continue the direction of policies and programs that had been well established by former Social Minister Idrus Marham.

"Our obligation is to ensure that the program is well realized and has the maximum impact on improving social welfare throughout Indonesia," he said.

He invited all ranks and officials at the Ministry of Social Affairs to work hard together to solve various social problems in the country.

Although the poverty rate has dropped to 9.82 percent, however, according to him, it is not fitting to be complacent; it has to work harder to reduce poverty.

"We will run fast. We will try to maintain the rhythm that Mr. Idrus Marham has begun," he said.

He said that there were many efforts that could be done to reduce poverty rates, including increasing people's purchasing power and improving the grassroots economy by providing stimulants.

"The grassroots economy must be considered by the government, there must be a stimulant so that the grassroots economy is the way," he said.