Jakarta, Jubi – The highest child poverty rates is in the provinces of Papua, West Papua and East Nusa Tenggara, respectively 35.57 percent, 31.03 percent, and 26.42 percent. While the lowest rates were in the provinces of Bali, DKI Jakarta and South Kalimantan, respectively at 5.39 percent, 5.55 percent, and 6.06 percent.This was revealed in the launching of Child Poverty Analysis Book and Deprivation of Basic Rights of Children in Indonesia by BPS (Central Bureau of Statistics) with The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Jakarta, Tuesday (July 25).
Head of the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) Suhariyanto emphasized the importance of database related to child poverty so that policies taken by the government can be effective to overcome the problem.
According to him, poverty is one of the root causes of children’s obstacles to grow and develop based to their maximum potential. Growing in poverty affects children’s health and nutrition, educational attainment and psychosocial well-being of children.
As of March 2016, the poor population in Indonesia reached 28.01 million people where 40.22 percent of them are children that is 11.26 million of people.
Based on the National Socioeconomic Survey (Susenas) March 2016, nationally, the percentage of poor children in Indonesia is 13.31 percent. Almost half of poor children in Indonesia are in Java, which is 47.39 percent.
Demographics and household characteristics are also very influential with child poverty in Indonesia.
Children living in households with five or more household members are at a higher risk of becoming poor than those living in households with fewer than five households.
Child poverty is measured through a broader and mulitidimensional aspect, such as the difficulty of access to adequate housing, nutritionally adequate food, health and education services, and the right to receive birth registration.
Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), Bambang Brodjonegoro, said that sustainable development should start with the children.
“This book is an important effort to gain a uniform understanding of child poverty, not only monetary but also multidimensional, so it is hoped that in the future the right policy direction can be formulated,” said Bambang.(*)
