Indonesia\u2019s Social Minister, Saifullah Yusuf, received a delegation\nfrom West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal at the\nMinistry of Social Affairs office in Jakarta on Monday, 9 March 2026.\nThe meeting focused on strengthening social data quality through the\nNational Single Social Economic Data (DTSEN) system and preparing for\nthe implementation of the People\u2019s School programme in NTB Province.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, the Social Minister, commonly known as Gus Ipul,\nexplained that the government continues to improve DTSEN data quality\nthrough various channels of public participation. He emphasised that\nsocial data is dynamic in nature, and the update process must be\nconducted continuously.<\/p>\n
\u201cData quality improvements are carried out through various channels,\nranging from the Integrated Social Welfare Information System (SIKS-NG),\nthe Social Assistance Check platform, ground verification, the 021-171\ncall centre, to the WhatsApp Report Social Assistance service at 08877\n171 171,\u201d Gus Ipul stated.<\/p>\n
According to him, these diverse channels are provided so that\ncommunities can participate directly in the data update process. \u201cFor\npeople unfamiliar with using applications, we provide call centre and\nWhatsApp services so they can still report or request data corrections,\u201d\nhe added.<\/p>\n
Gus Ipul emphasised that this data improvement is part of the\nnational target directed through Presidential Instruction Number 4 of\n2025 on National Single Social and Economic Data. Through this policy,\nthe government aims to ensure that social assistance is genuinely given\nto those who need it most.<\/p>\n
In his presentation, Gus Ipul also explained that data collection\ninstruments have been standardised by the Central Bureau of Statistics,\nwith dozens of welfare variables serving as the basis for measurement.\nThe data is then validated and monitored regularly to continuously\nimprove its accuracy.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that the data improvement process is still ongoing.\nBased on initial DTSEN mapping, some residents in the lowest welfare\ndecile have yet to receive health insurance contribution assistance\n(PBI-JK), whilst some assistance recipients actually come from higher\nwelfare groups.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not anyone\u2019s fault. This is a consequence of dynamic data\nthat we must continue to improve. The principle is that state assistance\nmust be given to those who need it most, not to those who were\nregistered first,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n
The meeting also covered developments in mechanisms for reactivating\nHealth Insurance Contribution Assistance (PBI-JK) participants. Of\napproximately 11 million participants previously deactivated, around\n869,000 have been reactivated through various schemes, including PBI-JK\nreactivation, transfer to local government financing schemes, corporate\nschemes, and independent participant schemes.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Governor Iqbal welcomed the government\u2019s digitalisation\nand data integration efforts. \u201cThis digitalisation is important so that\ndata can be integrated with various other systems. Previously there was\nno integration, so each system operated independently,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He explained that the NTB Provincial Government also routinely\nconducts verification and validation of poverty data annually through\nfield facilitators. \u201cWe orchestrate so that all parties, whether\ngovernment agencies or institutions like universities, use the same data\nin the matching process,\u201d Iqbal stated.<\/p>\n
Beyond data improvement, the NTB Provincial Government is also\nstrengthening extreme poverty alleviation interventions through family\neconomic empowerment programmes. Assistance is provided in the form of\nproductive business capital such as laying hens and household-scale\nagricultural ventures. \u201cEach village is allocated approximately 500\nmillion rupiah for village-level interventions. We are also encouraging\nthe central government and corporate social responsibility initiatives\nto intervene in families categorised as extremely poor,\u201d he\nexplained.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, both parties also discussed the readiness for\ndeveloping permanent People\u2019s Schools in NTB Province as part of efforts\nto expand educational access for poor and vulnerable families.<\/p>\n
The delegation was accompanied by officials from the Ministry of\nSocial Affairs, including the Director General of Social Empowerment and\nthe Director of Social Empowerment for Disadvantaged Regions, as well as\nrepresentatives from the NTB Provincial Government comprising the Head\nof the Regional Development Planning Agency Baiq Nelly Yuniarti, the\nHead of Communication and Information Services Akhsanul Khalik, the Head\nof Regional Liaison Agency Lalu Achmad Sukarman, and the Head of\nMonitoring and Evaluation Division of the Regional Development Planning\nAgency Herry Agustiadi.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-ipul-and-ntb-governor-synchronise-national-single-social-data-update-and-peoples-school-initiative-1773060880", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }