Jakarta (ANTARA) - Population and Family Planning Minister Wihaji has said that internships can support the achievement of the demographic bonus by enabling students to become productive members of society.

“The state is here to (tap the) demographic bonus. Thus, students must be productive (and utilize) their skills, which can be done by one of which is internship,” he said during a student orientation at Brawijaya University, Malang, East Java, on Tuesday, according to a statement received here on Wednesday.

New students, who belong to the productive age group, can be developed into talents capable of facing national and global challenges and achieving the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision to improve people’s welfare, the minister added.

The government is pursuing people-centric development that is tailored to the needs of each life stage with the help of priority intervention measures, he informed.

For example, he said, for toddlers aged 0–5, the government is providing necessary interventions related to nutrition and parenting. For elementary school students, ages 6 to 14, nutrition and access to school are being ensured.

High school students and university students in the 15–21 age group are being offered vocational training and internships. Adults aged 22–54 are being encouraged to increase productivity.

Wihaji said that older adults, aged 55–64, are being provided with healthcare and prepared for retirement.

“Lastly, (for) elderly people (aged) above 65, the intervention is healthcare and social insurance,” he informed.

His ministry is seeking to transform into an institution that stimulates people-centric development by formulating policies that address the needs of families.

“The President is very concerned regarding Golden Indonesia and Indonesia’s future inheritors. In the Golden Indonesia vision, there are four issues: great human resources, developed economy, (fair) development, and democratic country,” he said.

The ministry is also pursuing Prabowo’s eight national development or Asta Cita goals, particularly the fourth and sixth goals, which revolve around human resource development and poverty elimination.

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Translator: Lintang Budiyanti P, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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