Handing over the Entrepreneurship Assistance, the Vice President Hopes to Improve the Welfare of the Productive Elderly

SURABAYA, FRIDAY (3 June 2022) - The 26th National Elderly Day (HLUN) was still being commemorated in several regions. The most recent activities took place in Lumajang Regency and Surabaya City. Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin was present at the event which took place in the two cities.

His presence was accompanied by the Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini as a form of respect for the elderly. In addition, the Vice President also handed over basic food assistance and entrepreneurship assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs to the beneficiaries.

In Lumajang, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin handed over social assistance to 50 beneficiaries consisting of the elderly, Family Hope Program (PKH) and Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) beneficiaries with total assistance of IDR 80 million. The assistance consisted of ATENSI, PKH, BPNT and BLT for Cooking Oil assistance.

After handing over the assistance in Lumajang Regency, the Vice President went to Surabaya City to hand over social assistance. Here, the Vice President handed over social assistance to 50 elderly people. The total assistance provided was IDR 82,893,600, consisting of ATENSI, PKH, BPNT and BLT for Cooking Oil assistance.

"Today I handed over social assistance and empowerment assistance. Hopefully, this empowerment can accelerate the welfare of the beneficiaries," said Vice President Ma'ruf Amin in front of the media crew at the Youth Hall, Surabaya City Square (02/06).

ATENSI assistance, which was one component of social assistance, was given to 10 elderly people in Lumajang Regency and 10 elderly people in Surabaya City. The entrepreneurship assistance provided was for the business of grocery stalls, rice stalls, coffee shops, and peddled steamed fish dumplings.

The Minister also said that the Ministry of Social Affairs does not only provide social assistance. "There is business capital assistance for underprivileged families. They are expected not only to receive social assistance but also to be able to do business with empowerment assistance," said the Minister.

In addition, ATENSI assistance was also provided for two people with disabilities. “There are people with visual disabilities. He has been doing massages regularly. But we try to empower his wife by providing a grocery business for his wife,” said the Minister.

By empowering the spouse, it is hoped that the livelihoods of these beneficiaries will improve. The assistance distribution to elderly beneficiaries was based on the assessment results carried out by the Technical Implementation Unit of the Ministry of Social Affairs, namely the Mahatmiya Bali Center and the Prof. Dr Soeharso Surakarta Integrated Center.

“I am grateful to have received assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs. I sell things to pay for my grandchildren at home. Later, when I am not strong enough, my son will continue my business,” said Koestini, a 70-year-old elderly.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs