Earlier, Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismahirini had announced that the government was developing an application for social aid disbursal in collaboration with Bank Indonesia, the Financial Services Authority (OJK), and fintech corporations. The application will be unveiled on August 17, 2021.
On Saturday, Minister of Communication and Informatics Johnny G. Plate told ANTARA that his group will support the innovation by the Ministry of Social Affairs through intensifying public communication and accelerating efforts to achieve equitable digital infrastructure.
Kominfo has also cut access to content and applications violating the law in a bid to thwart hoaxes and fraud.
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Plate remarked that his ministry will continue to boost digital literacy among members of the public.
The ministry will target to involve 12.4 million people in digital literacy activities in 2021, with the objective of reaching 50 million participants by 2024 in 514 districts and cities across Indonesia, according to Plate.
Moreover, raising the public's digital literacy is also part of Kominfo's agenda to create digital citizens.
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"All of this is a form of real support by Kominfo, so that citizens can receive social aid prepared by the government as well as protect them from negative impacts of the Internet, such as hoaxes, disinformation, and fraud," Plate stated.
On Thursday, public policy observer from Trisakti University Trubus Rahadiansyah told ANTARA that the use of digital technology to distribute social aid will support transparency and accountability.
However, he emphasized the need for proper planning, so that digitalization of social aid distribution can be conducted accurately and optimally implemented.
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Translator: Fathur Rochman, Fadhli R
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
