JAKARTA (9 December 2023) – Ministry of Social Affairs' Nusantara Economic Hero Program (PENA) has succeeded in graduating more than 10,000 Beneficiary Families (KPM) from social assistance.  This statement was made by Minister of Social Affairs, Tri Rismaharini, when attending KPM PENA and Tatarupa graduation ceremony, at Ministry of Social Affairs Office, Jalan Salemba 28, Central Jakarta, Saturday (9/12).

"Currently we have been able to graduate 10,073 KPM, most of whom are also people with disabilities," said Minister of Social Affairs in front of the media.

In carrying out graduation, Ministry of Social Affairs does not directly remove KPM from the list of social assistance recipients but goes through a monitoring and evaluation process.  KPM who graduated are those whose income is above the Regency/City Minimum Wage (UMK), and whose income is stable for at least three months.

“Like the ladies from NTT. They asked for (graduation).  From 0 income then after that we help up to IDR 1 million, it doesn't come out, right?  "So, until they earn UMK income," she said.

Of the total 12,967 KPM who received PENA, 2,903 of them have not yet been graduated.  There are 813 KPM whose income has increased but is still below the respective City/Regency Minimum Wage, 775 KPM whose income has increased above the extreme poverty line but below the poverty line, 1,245 KPM whose income has increased but is still below the extreme poverty line as many as KPM.  There are only 61 KPM whose income has not increased.

Meanwhile, Presidential Staff Office (KSP) fully supports PENA program which graduates KPM social assistance.  The reason is that the PENA program provides business opportunities for poor people which increases their income, increasing purchasing power.

"Imagine if these 25 million people (the poor) had their income double with the graduation approach and PENA program, our people's purchasing power would increase tremendously," said KSP Principal Expert Abraham Wirotomo.

According to him, the graduation approach taken by Minister of Social Affairs through PENA can move the Indonesian economy.  Increasing the income of KPM PENA not only brings KPM out of poverty but also makes people able to buy goods that are included in secondary or tertiary needs.

Public Relations Bureau
Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs