Govt sets 15 regions as demographic bonus model area

Bogor, West Java (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Minister of Population and Family Development, Wihaji, has designated 15 districts and cities as pilot areas for the implementation of the Population Development Roadmap (PJPK) to optimise the demographic bonus.

"This programme is part of the central government's efforts to improve the future of each district/city," Wihaji explained on Monday (July 13).

The 15 regions were designated as examples for implementing approximately 30 priority indicators for population development, which can serve as a reference for other regions in Indonesia.

These areas include Balikpapan City, Padang City, Lima Puluh Kota District, South Tangerang City, Pandeglang District, Bandung City, Indramayu District, Sumedang District, Sragen District, Pekalongan City, Surabaya City, Kediri City, Lumajang District, Sidoarjo District, and Makassar City.

According to Wihaji, the PJPK provides each regional government with a population development direction aligned with the characteristics and conditions of its respective region.

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He noted the implementation of the population development indicators is expected to improve the Human Development Index (HDI), which is reflected in, among other things, increases in average years of schooling, life expectancy, and per capita income.

Wihaji then said population development poses unique challenges, as its outcomes are not as immediately visible as those of physical infrastructure projects.

"In a sense, what we are developing is people, so they become healthier, better educated, and of higher quality. One of the challenges, therefore, is explaining this comprehensively," he remarked.

In addition to raise the awareness of population development in the medium and long term, the minister emphasised that securing financial support remains another key challenge.

Therefore, the ministry is collaborating with ministry of finance and ministry of home affairs to support the implementation of the PJPK.

"We are also collaborating with the ministry of home affairs to provide incentives to local governments if they meet the indicators we submit to the ministry," he noted.

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Translator: M Fikri Setiawan, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Editor: Fransiska Ninditya

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