INDIA, RAKYAT NEWS – President Prabowo Subianto has expressed admiration for the poverty alleviation efforts led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prabowo made these comments during his official visit to India, where he was invited as the chief guest for India’s 76th Republic Day celebrations.

In his remarks, Prabowo highlighted how Modi’s commitment to reducing poverty and supporting marginalized communities has significantly influenced Indonesia’s approach to addressing social welfare issues.

He specifically noted the impact of India’s public service programs, which have been successful in improving the lives of the poorest sections of society.

Prabowo was particularly inspired by India’s comprehensive public service programs, including the nationwide school lunch program that began in 1995. The program has been credited with improving nutrition and encouraging children from disadvantaged families to attend school regularly.

“Modi’s commitment to lifting people out of poverty, helping the marginalized, and supporting the most vulnerable members of society is something we can learn from,” Prabowo stated. He emphasized that Indonesia aims to apply similar strategies to address its own poverty challenges.

During the visit, which included a meeting with Modi on January 25, 2025, the two leaders discussed the successes of India’s public service programs. Modi shared the experiences and lessons learned from implementing the free school lunch program, which has reached millions of children across the country.

Prabowo noted that Indonesia has already started studying these initiatives and is considering adapting them to fit its own needs. He mentioned that technical teams from Indonesia have visited India to observe and learn from these successful programs, which could potentially be integrated into Indonesia’s welfare systems.

“We have sent technical teams to study these programs, and we are already implementing many of them as examples of good practices,” Prabowo said. While he did not go into specific details about the programs being adopted, he emphasized the importance of learning from India’s experiences.

Prabowo’s visit also underscores the growing relationship between India and Indonesia. The two nations are keen to cooperate on a range of issues, including economic development and social welfare. As part of the visit, Prabowo also discussed future collaboration in sectors like healthcare and food security.

Prabowo’s positive remarks about India’s efforts to alleviate poverty reflect a shared commitment to tackling global challenges and improving the lives of the most vulnerable. The Indonesian leader hopes that through such collaborations, both countries can continue to build more inclusive and sustainable futures for their citizens. (Uki Ruknuddin)