MoSA and Commission VIII DPR RI Synergize, Ensuring Social Assistance for Economic Empowerment

MANADO (15 July 2023) -- Social assistance does not aim to maintain poverty or disability, but to motivate beneficiaries so they can live independently and no longer depend on the state. 

The statement was conveyed by the Chairman of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Ashabul Kahfi while leading a working visit in North Sulawesi Province to be precise at the Tumou Tou Center of the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) in Manado, Friday (14/7).

During the visit, Ashabul Kahfi invited beneficiaries to graduate by developing entrepreneurial skills through the Indonesian Economic Heroes (PENA) program. To the beneficiaries who were present, Kahfi opened a dialogue, to encourage and increase the motivation of beneficiaries.

"Do you want to get IDR 5.5 million?" said Kahfi in front of the beneficiaries. 

"Yes, we do," replied the beneficiaries who were present simultaneously.

"In one condition. You have to graduate from the Family Hope Program (PKH)," Ashabul Kahfi continued.

"Yes!" they replied.

Ashabul Kahfi also presents a simulation of income if the beneficiaries are willing to run a business.

"If you sell Jalangkote (South Sulawesi fried dumplings), Cendol, Pisang Epe, deep fried snacks, and cocktail desserts, you can get IDR 100,000/day. So in a month, the profit will be IDR 3 million. Meanwhile, how much is the government incentive per month? The highest is only IDR 600,000," said Kahfi.

Kahfi appreciated MoSA's program and its concrete steps to accelerate poverty handling and provide welfare to the society. "We hope in the future this assistance will enable poor people to be more independent," said Kahfi.

Present on the same occasion, Head of the Integrated Center Inten Soeweno, M.O. Royani conveyed that various kinds of assistance provided by MoSA were able to provide benefits to the community. This assistance was given after conducting an assessment of the needs of the people of North Sulawesi.

"We believe that this assistance can ease the burden on affected communities and provide more benefits for beneficiaries in dealing with everyday problems," he said.

MoSA as a state organizer continues to strive to maximize the Penta helix function to educate people that the main goal of social assistance is empowerment. It is hoped that people can develop their potential as a whole and contribute positively to themselves, their families, communities and society in general.

Empowerment through social assistance provides opportunities for people to be independent, participate in social and economic life, and have control over their own lives.

A PKH beneficiary who was present, Yanti Isini (39) said that she wanted to be independent. Yanti who has received PKH since 2018 has been utilizing PKH assistance to increase business capital. In addition, she used assistance to buy school equipment for her children.

However, she hopes to get PENA assistance even though she has to graduate from PKH. By doing so, she can develop her business. "I want to develop my business So I can become economically independent and no longer depend on PKH. Moreover, the assistance I receive right now can be useful for others," said this resident of Singkil District.

MoSA distributed various assistance in Manado consisting of ATENSI assistance for entrepreneurship, practical tools and ATENSI assistance for children worth IDR 128 million.

Another assistance was buffer stock for the social granary in North Sulawesi Province, Disaster Preparedness Village in Bitung Regency and Emergency Response for Sitaro Island worth IDR 2.1 billion, sympathy gifts and food packages for heirs of fire victims worth IDR 71 million, as well as 2023 PKH assistance for Phase 1 and Phase 2 worth IDR 124.7 billion.