JAKARTA (March 8, 2024) - The Ministry of Social Affairs graduated 3,449 beneficiaries of the Nusantara Economic Heroes (PENA) for the February period.

Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini at the Aneka Bhakti Building of the Ministry of Social Affairs Jakarta, said that the beneficiaries who were graduated were those who had become independent and the income has increased.

"Today we are graduating, they left from the social assistance recipients in total 3,449 beneficiaries in February. Last January there were 3,772, so the total is 7,221 beneficiaries. This year we can graduate in two months, because the target is big," said the Minister.

Graduated beneficiaries come from the PENA Regular, PENA Berdikari, PENA Atensi, PENA Remote Communities, PENA Disaster Victims and PENA Vocational categories. Beneficiaries of the PENA program who graduated had an income above the UMK (Regency / City Minimum Wage).

"We release them after they are more than the UMK, if they are still below the UMK we do not release them from the social assistance recipients," said Minister of Social Affairs Risma.

The Minister specifically said that financial management is very important to do and manage to separate business finances and household finances, and she encouraged them to be disciplined.

The Ministry of Social Affairs together with Tatarupa Nusantara assisted by students from universities also continue to collaborate to design, branding and packaging the products of PENA beneficiaries so that they can upgrade.