House Commission XIII Hails Prison Food Security Programme as a Breakthrough

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Deputy Chair of Commission XIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Dewi Asmara, has stated that the food security programme implemented by the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services (Kemenimipas) in Indonesian correctional institutions (Lapas) represents a significant breakthrough.

Speaking during a visit to observe social service activities—including house renovations, the upgrading of places of worship, and the optimisation of assimilation and education facilities at the Class IIA Warungkirol Prison in Sukabumi, West Java, on Wednesday—Dewi Asmara noted that Minister of Immigration and Correctional Services, Agus Andrianto, has successfully realised his vision for correctional transformation. She emphasised that these efforts benefit not only inmates but also the surrounding community.

“Correctional services are no longer just about efforts to integrate inmates back into society; they are now actively engaging with the community in a tangible way. The community is also feeling the benefits,” said Dewi.

During the event, Dewi witnessed the renovation of houses that were previously uninhabitable, as well as the refurbishment of a mosque in Kampung Warungkiara, located within the Warungkiara Prison environment. The house renovation programme was funded by the proceeds from the grand harvest of the national inmate food security programme, which was conducted on 15 January 2026 at the Class I Cirebon Prison.

The construction work utilised materials such as pressed bricks, paving blocks, and house structures made from coal combustion by-products, specifically fly ash and bottom ash (FABA), produced by inmates at the Class I Tangerang Prison.

“Typically, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is conducted by State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN). However, here, inmates—through food security initiatives and under the guidance of the Minister and Director General—have been able to provide benefits across Indonesia,” she remarked.

Dewi noted that this correctional transformation through food security programmes also supports the ‘Astacita’ vision of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

“This is an example of the integration and assimilation process. Previously, media coverage of prisons often focused only on negative aspects. Therefore, I hope that through today’s activities, the media can also showcase the positive side of correctional institutions,” she said.

The politician stated that Kemenimipas has undertaken numerous efforts to prepare inmates for reintegration into society through various food security programmes that benefit both inmates and the public.

“At the very least, regarding the food security results here at Warungkiara Prison, at least 50 per cent of the food supplies for inmates can be sourced from prisons across Indonesia that possess arable land,” she added.

Dewi expressed her hope that Kemenimpas’s future efforts in food security and social care for the community would truly embody the spirit of the ongoing transformation. She believes these innovations will further strengthen the realisation of a modern, recovery-oriented correctional system.

“This aligns with the Kemenimipas tagline: ‘Imipas moves excellently, providing extraordinary service’,” concluded Dewi.