East Java Governor Hands Over IDR 7.62 Billion Aid For Bangkalan Residents

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa handed over social assistance to the people of Bangkalan Regency. (ANTARA)

East Java (Jatim) Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa handed over social assistance and community empowerment worth a total of IDR 7.62 billion to residents of Bangkalan Regency.

The assistance consists of social assistance and compassion for social welfare pillars amounting to Rp6.6 billion and community and village empowerment assistance worth Rp1.02 billion.

"This is part of the social assistance provided to all regencies/cities in East Java. Today is Bangkalan's turn," said East Java Governor Khofifah in a statement received in Surabaya, Saturday.

The assistance was symbolically handed over to beneficiaries, including Social Assistance for Persons with Disabilities (ASPD) to five people amounting to IDR 900,000 per quarter, as well as similar assistance to 15 companions to the Family Hope Program (PKH) Plus.

In addition, social assistance worth IDR 500,000 per quarter is given to 20 PKH Plus recipients, as well as productive zakat with the same nominal channeled to 100 potential beneficiaries of the Women's Javari KIP Program.

"We also provide productive inclusive entrepreneurship assistance for tough women through the Javanese Women's Program. The recipients are single mothers whose families have people with disabilities, vulnerable elderly people, or children who are indicated to be stunted," said Khofifah.

Khofifah also handed over compassion to 15 Disaster Preparedness Cadets (Tagana) worth IDR 750,000 per quarter and to 15 District Social Welfare Workers (TKSK) worth IDR 1.5 million per quarter.

The total social assistance in Bangkalan Regency for 2025 reached Rp6.67 billion, covering 2,611 families and 283 beneficiary people. Meanwhile, community and village empowerment assistance reached Rp1.02 billion.

The details of the empowerment assistance include the BUMDes Empowerment Program for three sub-districts and four villages amounting to Rp400 million, the Empowerment Village Program Rp200 million for one sub-district and two villages, and the East Java Puspa Program of Rp420 million for 143 families.

"Hopefully this program can synergize with the Bangkalan Regency Government (Pemkab) program and have a significant impact on reducing extreme poverty," said Khofifah.

Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) 2024, the poverty rate in Bangkalan Regency was recorded at 18.66 percent. However, Bangkalan Regent R. Abdul Latif Amin Imron said the figure had decreased to 15 percent based on local government internal data collection.

Even though it has decreased, Bangkalan is still an area with a high poverty rate in East Java. We hope that the synergy with the Provincial Government (Pemprov) of East Java can reduce this number further," he said.

His party will cooperate with Baznas in distributing aid, as well as strengthening empowerment programs for underprivileged communities to break the chain of poverty.