Illiterate Elderly Woman in Pekalongan Stripped of Social Aid Due to Alleged Online Gambling Involvement
Darmi (63), a resident of Kayugritan Village, Karanganyar District, Pekalongan Regency, Central Java, has had her social assistance deactivated because her National Identity Number (NIK) was indicated to be involved in online gambling. This occurred despite the fact that Darmi does not own a mobile device and is unable to read or write.
The Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS) operator for Kayugritan Village, Neli Setyoningsih, revealed that Darmi lives with her husband, Dayat (77). Both are classified in Decile 1, representing the extremely poor. On a daily basis, Darmi works as a casual labourer, removing thread remnants from garment products.
According to Neli, Darmi’s income is only approximately Rp21,000 per week. Meanwhile, Dayat is unable to work due to his advanced age. Their 47-year-old daughter also works as a casual garment worker like Darmi. Within this family, no member owns a mobile phone or any electronic device.
Neli revealed that in November 2025, the Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) of Rp200,000 per month that Darmi usually receives suddenly ceased. “After I checked, it turned out her NIK was indicated for online gambling,” she said during an interview on Monday (31/8/2026).
Upon receiving this information, Neli, knowing Darmi’s socio-economic condition, immediately filed a dispute. “I dared to dispute it because she is an underprivileged person. Secondly, her level of education is low; she did not attend school and cannot read or write. She cannot even hold a mobile phone,” she said.
She added that before filing the dispute, Neli clarified with Darmi regarding the suspicion of involvement in online gambling. “It turned out that she indeed did not do it,” said Neli.
However, Darmi informed Neli that her ID card (KTP) had indeed been borrowed by someone in the past. She did not know whether that person had misused her ID. Currently, the Pekalongan Regency Social Affairs Office has not yet identified the party suspected of using Darmi’s ID for gambling activities.
With the information provided, and reinforced by the fact that no member of Darmi’s family owns a mobile device, Neli felt confident in disputing the indication of online gambling linked to Darmi’s NIK. “I dared to dispute it because it is impossible,” she stated.
Neli revealed that she submitted the dispute and applied for reactivation so that Darmi could receive social assistance again on 25 November 2025. “It was approved by the Data and Information Centre (Pusdatin) or the Ministry of Social Affairs as of 30 August 2026,” she said.
Nevertheless, Neli does not yet know exactly when Darmi will resume receiving BPNT, which is disbursed every three months with a total transfer of Rp600,000. The funds can be withdrawn at agents or state-owned banks (Himbara).