Government Integrates Empowerment Programs To Reduce Social Assistance Dependence

Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Saifullah Yusuf or Gus Ipul (ANTARA)

Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Saifullah Yusuf explained that the government is trying to strengthen community empowerment programs so that people who receive social assistance (bansos), especially those who are still in the productive age category, can become independent, more empowered, and no longer depend on social assistance.

At the Presidential Palace of the Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta, Tuesday night (4/11), Gus Ipul, Saifullah's nickname, explained that community empowerment was a special concern for President Prabowo Subianto as evidenced by the existence of a separate coordinating ministry in charge of community empowerment.

"This marks that there is indeed a strong commitment from the President to strengthen empowerment. Do not merely social assistance because of this social assistance if it is not accompanied by empowerment of people (recipients, ed.), finally demotigate. Many (recipients) hope for the arrival of social assistance. Therefore, we invite beneficiary families who are of productive age to have the same spirit," said Gus Ipul when met after he attended a limited meeting related to the community empowerment program led by President Prabowo at the Palace, Tuesday.

In order to realize this goal, Gus Ipul explained that the government will also study the right empowerment program given to recipients of social assistance, especially for those who are still at a productive age.

"The empowerment program is actually greater as well as its assistance than social assistance. For example, later there will be business capital assistance, there will be skills improvement assistance, there are other things that are needed in developing a business. If he wants to work, a certain company, he can participate in training programs made by the Ministry of Manpower or by the Ministry of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers. Where can it be done later?" said Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf in response to reporters' questions.

Gus Ipul said the government is currently trying to integrate various existing community empowerment programs so that they are connected to social assistance recipients so that they can be more independent and empowered in the future.

"Essentially, this integrates programs within the framework of empowering beneficiary families so that they do not depend on social assistance, but have the spirit to become a more independent family," said Gus Ipul.

However, Gus Ipul said there are groups that are indeed vulnerable so that it is possible to become recipients of social assistance for life, namely the elderly (elderly) and disabled groups.

"It might be part of the life insurance program, especially for the elderly and people with disabilities. But for those with productive, healthy age, let's work together to empower according to what is needed by each beneficiary family," continued Saifullah.

At the Presidential Palace of the Republic of Indonesia, Tuesday, President Prabowo summoned a number of his ministers for a meeting to discuss community empowerment programs, empowerment of MSMEs, and suitability and inter-empowerment between empowerment programs launched by the government.

The meeting was attended by Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar, and Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno, Minister of Investment and Downstreaming as well as CEO of Danantara Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Brian Yuliarto, Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti, Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Maman Abdurrahman, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman.

Then, there are also Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono, Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya, Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions Yandri Susanto, Minister of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers Mukhtarudin, Head of the Poverty Reduction Acceleration Agency Budiman Sudjatmiko, Presidential Chief of Staff Muhammad Qodari, Head of the Government Communication Agency Angga Raka Prabowo, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.