Baznas and Coordinating Ministry Distribute Economic Empowerment Aid to Pesantren in Gresik
The National Zakat Agency (Baznas), together with the Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment (Menko PM) Muhaimin Iskandar, has distributed economic empowerment aid for the ummah through the ZMart Pesantren, Baznas Ultra Micro (BUMi) Mosque, and Santripreneur programmes in Gresik, East Java. During the programme launch at the Ihyaul Ulum Islamic Boarding School in Gresik on Saturday (8/8), a total of Rp350 million was disbursed to establish seven ZMart Pesantren units, Rp500 million was allocated for five mosques under the BUMi programme, and Rp21 million was provided for the Santripreneur programme through a circular economy-based empowerment garden.
Baznas RI Chairman Sodik Mudjahid stated that since 2022, Baznas has allocated tens of billions of rupiah for the ZMart and BUMi Mosque programmes, with East Java alone currently hosting approximately 23 ZMart units and hundreds of participating mosques. He stressed that the mosque and pesantren-based economic assistance programme is focused on strengthening the financial independence of the ummah from the grassroots level. He noted that the business capital reinforcement for pesantren and mosques in Gresik is being carried out in collaboration with the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment and supported by strategic coordination with the Ministry of Cooperatives and Danantara to scale up micro-business financing.
"Our hope is that through this assistance and capital strengthening, the beneficiaries in East Java will eventually transform and experience an increase in status from mustahik to muzakki," said Sodik Mudjahid. Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar emphasised the importance of positioning pesantren as the primary ecosystem for poverty alleviation and a deeply rooted driver of regional economies. "There is no ecosystem as strong and deeply rooted as pesantren in our homeland, so the most ready ecosystem for poverty alleviation and empowerment is the pesantren," said Cak Imin.
Asrorun Niam Sholeh, a board member of the Ihyaul Ulum Islamic Boarding School in Gresik, welcomed the placement of the pesantren and mosque-based economic empowerment programme in Gresik Regency as a strategic step towards achieving national self-reliance. He expressed hope that the synergy between the community and the government through the distribution of ZMart and BUMi Mosque capital would create a multiplier effect for the physical and spiritual welfare of the community. "Therefore, when the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment places and focuses community empowerment activities, particularly pesantren-based economic empowerment, this is a precise step that deserves appreciation," said Asrorun Niam Sholeh.