"Garuda" empowers youth eradicate poverty

Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - An Indonesian government initiative programme, called Movement for Excellent and Empowered Youth Organisations (Garuda), aimed at tackling poverty in Indonesia, particularly in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province.

Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment stated the government has set a target to eradicate poverty by 2026.

"The programme is an implementation of Presidential Instruction Number 8 of 2025 on optimising poverty alleviation services and eliminating extreme poverty," Deputy for Empowerment in Villages, Disadvantaged Regions, and Special Regions at the Ministry, Abdul Haris, said here on Thursday.

Haris explained achieving the poverty eradication target requires collaboration and synergy among all stakeholders, including universities, which possess abundant resources.

Garuda is one of the government's empowerment programmes that seeks to empower youth organisation, usually called Karang Taruna, to generate additional income and improve the local economy.

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Karang Taruna, he added, utilise waste generated by the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) to produce useful products, such as hand soap, maggots, and other items.

The government fully supports the initiative and has allocated funding for the implementation of the Garuda programme.

"It means that every rupiah spent from the state budget is directed not only toward social programmes, but also toward empowerment programs," Haris stated.

He expressed hope Garuda programme would improve community livelihoods and help reduce poverty not only in East Nusa Tenggara, but also in other regions.

Meanwhile, Nusa Cendana University (Undana) Rector Prof. Jefri S. Bale stated the university is ready to support various efforts to alleviate poverty in East Nusa Tenggara.

"Today marks a very good momentum because the synergy that has been established will certainly have an impact. Undana is grateful to be involved in this initiative," Prof. Bale remarked.

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Translator: Kornelis, Kenzu

Editor: Fransiska Ninditya

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