Assistance is not only to reduce family expenses, but it can increase (welfare), it can (also) encourage more productive activities
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Social Affairs Ministry has said that social assistance is not just a temporary solution, but is meant to protect and empower people so they can build a better future.

"Social assistance is not only a (one-time solution to a problem), social assistance is a part of people's livelihood to organize their lives in the future," Secretary General of the Social Affairs Ministry Harry Hikmat remarked here on Thursday.

Everyone needs to understand the shift in paradigm that social assistance could be considered as an additional source of income for poor and underprivileged families, he said.

It could be used to meet their basic needs and to support productive activities, he explained.

He said that the ministry has allocated most of its budget for social assistance programs.

However, one must not think that the ministry's task is only to distribute social assistance. It is also providing protection to the poor and vulnerable groups, he added.

In 2022, more than 90 percent of the ministry's budget or Rp74.8 trillion will be used for social assistance. Regular social assistance such as under the Family Hope Program and Non-Cash Basic Assistance will continue to be provided.

Apart from providing social assistance to alleviate beneficiaries' economic burden, the ministry has also designed a strategy to improve the welfare of the poor and vulnerable by increasing their income.

"So the services provided by the Social Affairs Ministry must be integrated. Assistance is not only to reduce family expenses, but it can increase (welfare), it can (also) encourage more productive activities," he added.

The Social Affairs Ministry has started a new scheme through Attention Creation Centers in some places. Beneficiaries of the scheme are being empowered so that they can earn an income to fulfill their needs, such as by running chicken fattening businesses, food stalls, among others.

It is also collaborating with the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry to build two apartment units, which will be occupied by the beneficiaries. It is expected that they can become independent in two to three years and get their own residence.

Hikmat emphasized that government assistance should be integrated with social empowerment schemes from other stakeholders, such as capital from banks, so that beneficiaries can become independent.

According to the research director of the Center of Reform on Economics, Piter Abdullah, the social assistance paradigm shift is very good, but information about social assistance needs to be disseminated to the public by the Social Affairs Ministry.

He suggested that in order for the social assistance program to run better in the future, it be conducted in an integrated manner and involve all stakeholders.

"What needs to be improved is the data. It needs cooperation with the Civil Registry Service Office," Abdullah said.

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Translator: Desi P, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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