East Java Governor Khofifah Backs Expansion of Social Assistance Digitalisation to Eight Regions

Surabaya (ANTARA) - East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa supports the expansion of social assistance (bansos) digitalisation in eight regions as an effort to broaden digital-based service transformation and improve targeting accuracy and distribution efficiency sustainably in the province. Speaking at a coordination meeting for monitoring the expansion of the social assistance digitalisation pilot in 43 districts and cities at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Jakarta on Tuesday, Khofifah noted that four areas in East Java have already been designated as digitalisation pilot locations: Surabaya City, Mojokerto City, Malang City, and Banyuwangi Regency. She stated that the successful implementation in these four areas serves as crucial capital for expanding the programme to other regions in East Java that have adequate digital infrastructure and governance ecosystems. “If we can be part of this bansos digitalisation process, we are ready to support and expand it. We have 38 cities and regencies in East Java. So, if previously there were four, we could add another four, God willing. We are ready to work hard to realise this programme here,” she said. Khofifah assessed that the expansion of bansos digitalisation must also be accompanied by strengthening the quality of beneficiary data to minimise inclusion errors, where the wrong people receive aid, and exclusion errors, where eligible recipients are not recorded. The East Java Provincial Government, she continued, is ready to strengthen data updating so that the database of social assistance recipients becomes more accurate and well-targeted. Khofifah also shared field experiences regarding support for social pillars in regions affected by budget efficiency policies and the mechanism for opening bank accounts for social assistance recipients. Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian stated that bansos digitalisation is part of accelerating Government Technology (GovTech) transformation to deliver more effective, transparent, and integrated public services. “This time we plan to expand to 43 districts and cities. I think for East Java, the important point is to increase the pilot areas for bansos digitalisation. This is also in coordination with Mr Luhut, the Chair of the National Economic Council. As Minister of Home Affairs, I support him in coordinating with regional government officials and all relevant agency heads to support the acceleration steps led by him,” he said. Chair of the National Economic Council, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, stated that the programme evaluation will be conducted until the end of July 2026 in preparation for a national launch by President Prabowo Subianto in October. According to Luhut, bansos digitalisation integrated with artificial intelligence technology has the potential to improve governance efficiency. “If this is realised, we have reported to the President, we could save more than Rp1,500 trillion. Our tax ratio, which is currently around 9 percent, could gradually increase to 11, 12, or even 13 percent like other ASEAN countries. Therefore, we must be united, implementing this programme gradually, in stages, and sustainably so that it can truly be realised properly,” he said.