Luhut targets nationwide digitalisation of social aid by October

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chair of the Government Digital Transformation Acceleration Committee Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan is targeting the nationwide implementation of the digitalised social assistance (bansos) programme to begin in October 2026, after pilot projects in 43 districts and cities are completed and evaluated. “After we evaluate it quickly, we will report to the President whether it is ready to be rolled out in October or November this year,” Luhut said while chairing the Social Assistance Digitalisation Acceleration Meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs headquarters in Jakarta on Tuesday. According to Luhut, the success of the pilot project in 43 districts and cities will serve as the basis for determining the readiness for the national implementation of the social assistance digitalisation system. He therefore requested all regional heads involved in the pilot programme to complete the implementation of the social assistance digitalisation by the end of August 2026 at the latest. Luhut explained that the digitalisation of social assistance is part of the development of Government Technology (GovTech), which is expected to improve efficiency, transparency, accountability, and the accuracy of targeting in the distribution of social aid. He also urged regional governments to encourage public registration through the Social Protection (Perlinsos) portal, with a target of at least 60 to 70 per cent of the population in each area during the trial period. Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian stated that the social assistance digitalisation pilot project in 43 districts and cities will serve as the foundation for drafting the Indonesian GovTech roadmap.