MoSA and Mabes Polri Investigate Social Assistance Distribution in 202 Villages in Wonosobo

WONOSOBO (22 July 2023) - Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) continues to improve supervision of the distribution of social assistance. MoSA ensures that the assistance is right on target for Beneficiary Families so that it can eradicate poverty. One of the efforts made is to check the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS) and match it with the facts.

Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini, who was concerned about this matter, gave directions to the Directorate of Social Security and the Social Welfare Data and Information Center (Pusdatin). They went to the field to check and match DTKS beneficiaries and respond quickly to public complaints regarding social assistance.

In carrying out supervision, MoSA cooperates with Law Enforcement Officials (APH), namely the Special Task Force (Satgasus) for the Prevention of Corruption at the Police Force General Headquarters (Mabes Polri). It is to prevent any fraud in the distribution of social assistance which has the potential to give rise to corruption. Collaboration is urgently needed to maximize the supervision of the 20 million beneficiaries spread across around 80,000 villages, while the MoSA’s human resources are limited.

"There are many challenges. We are trying to collaborate with the MoSA so that the social assistance distributed can be right on target. We are also trying to reduce frauds as much as possible," said the Head of Satgasus for Prevention of Corruption, Budi Agung Nugroho, during the investigation in Wonosobo Regency, Central Java Province.

MoSA and Satgasus for Prevention of Corruption checked and matched data in 202 villages in 15 sub-districts, in Wonosobo Regency, from 17 – 21 July 2023. They focused on the Family Hope Program (PKH) and Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT). The checking process is carried out to ensure that the assistance provided is following the regulations set by the Ministry of Social Affairs. The beneficiaries also have to match the criteria for beneficiaries.

"In Wonosobo, we directly check the beneficiaries in 15 sub-districts. Satgasus were present to ensure that the beneficiaries receiving assistance in Wonosobo were indeed the rightful person. That is our goal," said Budi.

The team did not only check and match beneficiaries' data registered at DTKS. When finding underprivileged residents who have not yet registered in DTKS, the team will suggest that the person be included in the DTKS so they can receive assistance.

"There are some residents who deserve assistance but have not been recorded by village officials, that's what we will propose. We will also provide advice to the local government, to improve the data. So that poor people who deserve assistance must be prioritized over economically independent people," Budi added.

After checking and matching the data, MoSA and Satgasus will provide dissemination and recommendations to village officials, social companions, and local governments so they can oversee data collection by going door to door and not just making administrative checks.

In the future, it is hoped that social assistance will be more targeted and effective in overcoming extreme poverty.

"By going to Wonosobo, we are providing enlightenment, and reminding village officials and social offices to collect both citizen and community data who deserve BPNT or PKH,” he said.

Budi hopes that the key message of this activity, namely improving the quality of data collection in the regions, can be well understood by officials and related officers in other areas.

In line with Law No. 13 of 2011 on Handling of the Poor, local governments have the duty and authority to collect data on poor people. Data collection took place in stages from village meetings, sub-district and district/city meetings.