Pengentasan Kemiskinan di Indonesia telah diupayakan oleh pemerintah sejak dahulu. Namun sebelum tahun 1993, program tersebut, pada umumnya, mempergunakan pendekatan sektor atau pengembangan wilayah. Pada tahun 1993 disadari bahwa upaya pengentasan kemiskinan masih belum menyentuh semua orang yang hidupnya kurang layak.Sebuah program baru dirancang dan diresmikan dengan ditetapkan suatu Instruksi Presiden, yaitu nomor 5, tahun 1993 tentang Penanggulangan Kemiskinan, (Inpres IDT) yang pendekatan adalah identifikasi desa tertinggal, kemudian disediakan sejumlah Rp. 20 juta per desa untuk kegiatan ekonomi produktif. Uang tersebut disalurkan melalui kelompok masyarakat, selanjutnya disebut Pokmas, dan diharapkan bergulir. Setiap kelompok dibantu oleh seorang Pendamping. Setelah akhir tahun pertama dan akhir tahun ketiga program berjalan, diadakan suatu penelitian di Sumatra Barat, yang menjadi landasan data lapangan dalam penyusunan tesis ini. Tujuannya adalah untuk mempelajari faktor-faktor yang mempengahuri kinerja IDT.Hasil penelitian menunjuk bahwa penerima bantuan di Sumatera Barat pada umumnya merupakan masyarakat yang sangat miskin sampai miskin. Namun, berdasarkan pengelolaan data Susenas, maka rupanya peningkatan pendapatan tidak menonjol, apalagi dibandingkan dengan pendapatan keluarga di desa non-IDT di Sumatera Barat. Perguliran pada anggota baru nyaris tidak ada.Pendampingan diakui cukup membantu, namun agar lebih efektif perlu dukungan pihak yang terkait, antara lain melalui pelatihan, motivasi dan lain-lainnya. Pelatihan yang diberikan pada penerima bantuan IDT tidak dapat dikaitkan secara statistik dengan indikator keberhasilan IDT. Keberadaan Pokmas sendiri tidak dibuktikan banyak bermanfaat. Berdasarkan studi ini diberikan saran agar pengalaman IDT dapat dipergunakan untuk program pengentasan kemiskinan pada masa yang akan datang.

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IDT was a governmental financed poverty alleviation which started in 1993 in 22,066 villages. Its main objective was to provide (substantial) funds on a revolving basis, to groups of poor beneficiaries, to be invested in income generating activities. Groups were supported by a special "guide" or coach ("pendamping").At the end of the first and third year a survey was organized in West Sumatra, with interviews, covering all the main actors at the village level. The results of these surveys form the basis for this research. The purpose was to identify factors influencing the outcome or performance of IDT. Questions looked into comprise first the understanding of poverty, the essence of IDT, the appropriateness of targeting, success in raising income, as well as the possible geographic, economic and social-cultural factors which may bear upon the performance of the program. Based on the above work, what recommendations can be made and what lessons have been learned.The research methodology comprised the statistical analysis of all possible variables inherent to the 1DT design, and correlations were made with success factors.Findings indicate that not all the initial assumption on which IDT was based, being a uniform national program, could be relied upon. In contrast to other reports elsewhere, the majority of beneficiaries was indeed very poor to rather poor. Based on Susenas data, income in IDT villages did not seem to have increased substantially if compared to non-IDT villages in West Sumatra for the same period. Revolving, especially to new members was nearly non-existing. The role of the coaches is indeed seen as important to the target group, but needs much further institutional support (selection, training, back up support) in order to be more effective. Training for beneficiaries were well received but not many a correlation could be made with success indicators. Working through groups revealed only marginally useful. Based on the study and the analysis of the field data, suggestions are made to incorporate lessons learned into future poverty alleviation programs in Indonesia.