Jakarta, July 16, 2025 — President Prabowo Subianto is committed to uplifting the poor through a series of flagship initiatives aimed not only at addressing immediate needs but also at paving a path for future generations to rise out of poverty.
“President Prabowo wants to restore dignity to our brothers and sisters living in poverty. He’s determined to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. That’s the role of programs like Sekolah Rakyat (People’s School), Kopdes Merah Putih (Village Cooperatives), and MBG (Free Nutritious Meals),” said Deputy Minister of Social Affairs Agus Jabo Priyono during a Berani Bicara (“Dare to Speak”) discussion titled Accelerating the Success of President Prabowo’s Programs, held at the Gatotkaca Volunteer Center in South Jakarta on Wednesday (July 16).
Agus explained that through the Sekolah Rakyat program, the government aims to disrupt the pattern in which children born into poverty are likely to inherit their parents’ economic struggles.
“The President’s message is clear: if the parents are poor, the children shouldn’t have to be. Education is the key,” he emphasized.
Eradicating poverty, Agus said, is a core focus of President Prabowo’s administration. The government has set an ambitious target of eliminating extreme poverty by 2026 and reducing the overall national poverty rate to below 5 percent by 2029.
This target is part of the national development agenda and will be pursued through a combination of social intervention and community empowerment programs.
“President Prabowo wants the poor to feel the benefits of these programs as soon as possible,” Agus concluded.
Also speaking at the event, Adita Irawati, Senior Expert at the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), highlighted the administration’s “three-pronged strategy” (Trisula) to combat poverty: the People’s School initiative, the Red-and-White Village Cooperatives, and Free Health Checks in Schools.
The health-focused initiative, known as Cek Kesehatan Gratis (CKG), has already reached 10 million Indonesians and aims to reach 50 million by the end of the year. The program now targets schoolgirls from elementary through high school, encompassing a population of 57 million students.
“If implemented on a mass scale, we are confident we will meet this goal,” said Adita.
In the socio-economic sector, the Red-and-White Village Cooperatives are designed to stimulate local economies and foster self-sufficiency by generating new jobs and empowering rural and urban communities.
President Prabowo is scheduled to officially launch the Kopdes Merah Putih program on July 21, 2025, with a target of establishing 80,000 cooperatives nationwide.
“The Red-and-White Cooperatives offer a model of village empowerment—enabling communities to meet their own needs and generate livelihoods through the strength of their own people,” Adita added.
