Poverty decreases in Turkey, says minister

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Minister Yılmaz has said social expenses increased significantly. AA Photo

The share of people who live under $2.15 on a daily basis decreased to 0.14 percent in 2011 from 3.04 percent in 2002 said Turkey’s Development Minister Cevdet Yılmaz on Oct. 18 through a written statement in response to the Parliament.

Yılmaz also noted the share of people who live under $4.30 decreased to 2.79 percent in 2011 from 30.3 percent in 2002.

He said a series of macroeconomic and structural policies had been adopted and implemented in a decisive manner to maintain a gradual rise in income and more equality in income distribution by increasing the growth rate.

“Social expenses increased to 17.2 percent of the GDP in 2012,” he noted.

In order to prevent poverty, a series of development policies have been adopted to maintain more equality in access to social opportunities and to increase employment.

“In line with the Social Support Program (SODES) we’ll continue to support projects that contribute to decreasing poverty,” he said, adding that some 7,271 projects have been supported for the last five years for around 881 million Turkish Liras.