JAKARTA (August 3, 2023) - Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini stated that as many as 1,322 Beneficiaries (PM) are ready to move out from the poverty. This can be seen from their desire to be free from participation in regular social assistance programs, namely the Family Hope Program (PKH) and the Basic Food Program. They achieve economic independence with the support of the Nusantara Economic Heroes (PENA) program.

The PENA program was initiated by Minister of Social Affairs Risma since the end of 2022. "Actually, there are 1,883 beneficiaries whose income is above the Regency / City Minimum Wage (UMK), but as of July 2023, only 1,322 of them are ready to graduate (exit from the assistance program)," said the Minister in a press conference in Jakarta, Wednesday (2/8).

In her statement, the Minister elaborated that of the 1,322 PMs who were ready to graduate, 1,191 of them were social assistance recipients. "The rest, they (non-recipients of social assistance) come out independently, but (their data) are listed in the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS)," she said.

Meanwhile, from 141 million DTKS that are matched with the National Identity Number (NIK), Risma explained, 21 million of them are social assistance recipients.
Given the limited quota of social assistance recipients, the originator of PENA program in Surabaya in 2010 revealed that MoSA helped them through the PENA program by providing business capital assistance.

"We help them. It takes various forms. For example, if they want to sell rice, then we help them with tools to cook rice, gas stoves, ingredients, rice, we help them with everything. But we don't help them in the form of money. They do the shopping, we deliver it," she said.

Furthermore, to anticipate beneficiaries who already have a fixed income, but are reluctant to be separated from social assistance, Risma is trying to increase their confidence by taking a certain approach.

"Later, we will take these approaches. So that they are confident that their income is sufficient, so that they can graduate. Because there are other people's rights there too, but they have not received them," she said firmly.

A number of beneficiaries who declared themselves ready to graduate were also presented at the Aneka Bhakti Building (GAB) of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Wednesday (2/8). They not only produce ready-to-eat food products, but also handicrafts and grocery stalls (trade sector), to workshop services (service sector).

At the same place, Principal Expert of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Abraham Wirotomo expressed his appreciation for the PENA program which help to push people out of poverty.
Abraham said that the PENA program is in line with Indonesian President Joko Widodo's target for 2024, which is for Indonesia to be free from extreme poverty.

"Mr. President's target is 0%. We believe that this is also the work of the community. That is why, through this PENA program, Mrs. Risma is creating heroes. The heroes are not Mrs. Risma, but families who want to get out of extreme poverty," he said.

For this reason, his party also urge the people who already feel that they are economically independent, so that they can transfer their social assistance to other people who really need it.