The Community Perceptions of Poverty in Gampong Ayon, Seulimeum Sub-district, Aceh Besar Regency (Research Results on March 2017)

Abstract

The Government of Aceh Besar Regency has made various efforts through assistance programs that are beneficial for the Gampong community to overcome poverty, but the poverty rate in Ayon Gampong, Seulimeum Sub-district is still high and has been going on for a long time, until now there are still many members of the community living under poverty. This poverty problem is very complex and multidimensional in nature, related to social, economic, cultural, and other aspects. The purpose of this study is to find out and describe community’s perceptions of poverty in Gampong Ayon, Seulimeum Sub-district, Aceh Besar Regency and to describe the causes of poverty. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach. To get information in accordance with the objectives of the study, the informants were determined by Purposive Sampling with a total of 12 informants. The results showed that community perceptions of poverty in Gampong Ayon, Seulimeum Sub-district, Aceh Besar Regency were very diverse, some were positive, some were pessimistic or negative. A positive view, for example, considers poverty as a part of the life of the people in Gampong Ayon that is not used as a burden, while those who have a negative view of poverty occur in Gampong Ayon because of the lack of concern from the government. Related to the factors that cause poverty in Gampong Ayon community, Seulimeum Sub-district, Aceh Besar Regency, which consists of cultural and structural factors. Cultural factors related to poverty that befell the Gampong Ayon community as a form of inheritance from the previous generation of poor fathers so that their children are also considered poor, while poverty is related to structural poverty because poverty is inherent in the poor population, because they do not have production assets and the ability to increase productivity.