Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf stated that the discussion between the two ministries in Jakarta on Friday identified several points for cooperation deemed essential as most of the beneficiaries of the Social Affairs Ministry's programs are village residents.
The minister made the statement at a press conference held at the Ministry of Social Affairs office in Jakarta on Friday.
He explained that the cooperation between the two ministries starts with harmonizing and revalidating data of social assistance beneficiaries owned by the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions.
The data will then be handed over to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), which will be tasked with creating a single database for social welfare.
Yusuf stated that through data harmonization, his ministry will identify cooperation on empowering social assistance beneficiaries to make them self-sufficient, ultimately reducing their dependency on aid while also speeding up poverty reduction efforts.
In this regard, Yusuf is opening up opportunities for collaboration with village-owned enterprises (BUMDes).
To facilitate the synergy, the Ministry of Social Affairs will also strengthen and optimize the role of the social welfare center (puskesos) in each village government office tasked with accommodating complaints from village residents regarding the fulfillment of social welfare.
"There are so many problems in villages that will be discussed through the puskesos," he remarked.
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Translator: Hana Dewi, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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