We will rearrange and integrate various social assistance programs under some ministries and institutions and place the programs under a strategic program of social assistance.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government will integrate several social assistance programs conducted by different ministries and institutions, National Development Planning Minister/ National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) Head Suharso Monoarfa stated.

"We will rearrange and integrate various social assistance programs under some ministries and institutions and place the programs under a strategic program of social assistance," Monoarfa noted at the Presidential Office after a limited meeting on reforming the social protection system led by President Joko Widodo here on Tuesday.

"To make those forms of social assistance effective, we will evaluate validity of the programs at the ministries and institutions," he affirmed.

Monoarfa spoke of President Widodo having tasked Bappenas with streamlining the social protection system.

"Once again, effectiveness of the disbursal of social assistance and social insurance is linked to the database," he remarked.

The minister stated that Bappenas will re-design the social assistance programs’ integration by updating data.

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"Digital-based data to have a high accuracy. We realize the need to work on some issues to bring about an improvement in terms of data, the accuracy of data on eligible receivers. Data is an inevitable factor in the implementation of social protection through social assistance programs," he expounded.

Bappenas is targeted to finalize the draft on the integrated social assistance program in 2024.

Monoarfa noted that the social protection system in Indonesia had covered two issues.

"First, social assistance provided by the government without requirement to pay premium. Second, social insurance where people can derive the benefits by paying the premium," he stated.

The minister confirmed that the government had also provided assistance to disburse social insurance payment for vulnerable families classified as poor and very poor.

"What is the goal of the social protection system? It is aimed at reducing the poverty rate, especially at the level of extreme poverty that has reached 2.5 to three percent in Indonesia," he remarked.

President Widodo has set a target to eradicate extreme poverty to zero percent by 2024, according to Monoarfa. Related news: Jakarta police again hand out 15,000 staple food packages

Translator: Desca L Natalia, Sri Haryati
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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