SURAKARTA (September 27, 2020) - Central Java province is the leading province in Indonesia to successfully graduate Beneficiary Families (KPM) for the Family Hope Program (PKH). Data from the Ministry of Social Affairs shows as many as 182,611 KPM PKH have independently graduated in Central Java until mid-September 2020.

The Director General of Social Protection and Security, Pepen Nazaruddin, explained that the success of Central Java Province in carrying out the most graduations could not be separated from the role of PKH Social Assistance.

"(This) shows the success of PKH companions. They always provide guidance to KPM to be able to escape from the trap of poverty," explained Pepen.

Pepen added that good cooperation between companions and KPM in carrying out Family Capacity Building Meetings (P2K2) is one of the keys to successful graduation in Central Java Province.

"In P2K2, actually KPM is given education and mental guidance. Yes, the community must be given mental understanding so they don't always expect help or (raise) their hands to receive. The community must be economically independent and optimistic," added Pepen.

The Ministry of Social Affairs noted that Central Java's success was followed by two other provinces, namely East Java and West Java. East Java Province recorded 172,509, while West Java Province had 149,228 KPM.

"KPM which has graduated from the beginning of the year until August nationally reached 711,126 families, or reached 71.1 percent of the target of 1 million KPM," said Pepen.

The government will continue to monitor and provide assistance to KPM PKH who have graduated so that they do not fall into poverty again or drop out of class.

"Like schoolchildren, KPM has gone up a grade or has graduated. If you have graduated, don't go back to being a KPM. If you have graduated, you should go to a higher school," explained Pepen.

Pepen added that the task of the state in reducing poverty is not only the work of the central government and local governments. But what is more important is the motivation from within KPM itself.

"KPM must have motivation so that life will be better in the future. Good for KPM is good for Indonesia in the future. If poverty can be reduced immediately, the hope is Mr. President and Mr. Minister of Social Affairs so that Indonesia becomes a middle-income country in 2045, exactly 100 years of Indonesia's independence , can be achieved well," he said.

Surviving the Pandemic Era

Lestari (50), KPM PKH from Karanganyar Regency who owns this convection business, admitted that she was very happy with the monitoring and assistance that was still being carried out by the PKH companion in Karanganyar Regency, even though she graduated in 2019.

"Friends of companions, until now, still often visit my house to ask about our condition and continue to provide motivation. This makes my husband and I excited to work, especially during a pandemic like now," said this mother of 4 children.

Lestari recounted that the convection business that she pioneered while being a KPM PKH is currently experiencing difficult times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She also had to rack her brain in order to survive until the pandemic was over.

Moreover, according to her, he already has a number of employees whose wages must still be met.

"During this pandemic, no matter how many sewing orders I receive, the important thing is that there is income. During this pandemic, I was forced to reduce the number of employees from 12 to 5 tailors, I also went down directly to sewing," he explained.

Lestari started a sewing business by making everyday clothes and had developed to make outdoor clothes and bags.

Now, he has to return to making everyday clothes. In order to survive, in addition to reducing the number of employees, Lestari is also diligent in visiting clothing sellers who sell their wares online.

"Every day, my children help me to open social media and look for clothes sellers there. Then, I record their contacts and call them to offer my sewing services," she added.

Talking to one merchant to another every day, Lestari lives it so that she can continue to get sewing orders and can survive during the pandemic.

"I have to survive because the people who depend on this sewing business are not only me, but also the families of the mothers who work for me here," she continued.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only crippled the national economy, but has also affected the business being run by KPM PKH.