Minister for Population and Family Development Wihaji, who also serves as the Head of the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN), announced the initiative while launching the “Lansia Berdaya” (Sidaya) empowerment program in Lamongan District, East Java, on Thursday.
The Minister stressed the necessity of stronger community support to ensure older adults remain productive and socially engaged.
“Senior schools are part of the answer, providing them with space to stay active, because many elderly people live in loneliness,” Wihaji said in an official statement on Friday.
According to the latest 2024 data from Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS), older adults now account for 12 percent of the country’s 268 million people, confirming Indonesia’s transition into an aging society.
The Sidaya program is the government’s response to this demographic shift. It aims to leverage the elderly population as contributors to development rather than viewing them solely as dependents, encouraging them to continue contributing to their families and communities.
The Sidaya program supports older Indonesians through four main components: senior schools that offer long-term learning and social activities; comprehensive health screenings to detect early-stage illnesses and identify those needing long-term care; entrepreneurship initiatives that strengthen seniors’ economic skills; and a Sidaya ID card that provides priority access to services and legal support.
The program responds to recent data showing that about 43 percent of Indonesian seniors reported health complaints in the past month, highlighting the need for coordinated efforts to keep older adults healthy and active.
Translator: Lintang, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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