Ministry of Cooperatives Accelerates Integration of PKH Recipients into Red and White Village Cooperatives
The Ministry of Cooperatives (Kemenkop) and other relevant Ministries and Agencies are accelerating the inclusion of beneficiaries from the Family Hope Program (PKH) of the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) as members of the Red and White Village/Sub-district Cooperatives (Kopdes/Kel).
This will gradually improve the living standards of the program beneficiaries, enabling them to escape extreme poverty.
The Minister of Cooperatives, Ferry Juliantono, emphasised that village cooperatives serve not only as business platforms but also have a strong social role. Therefore, synergy across Ministries and Agencies is essential to reduce poverty nationally quickly and effectively.
“With the addition of PKH beneficiaries as members of the Red and White Kopdes, community participation will increase, allowing them to purchase daily necessities, from basic food items to government-subsidised goods,” Ferry said in a statement on Tuesday (24 February 2026).
He made these remarks at an event on the Collaboration between Red and White Village Cooperatives and the Family Hope Program at the Red and White Kopdes in Ranjeng, Ciruas District, Serang Regency, on Tuesday (24 February).
Ferry reiterated that the Ranjeng Kopdes is expected to be managed seriously by its administrators after all physical buildings have been completed and meet the requirements for operation. With the inclusion of PKH program beneficiaries, the number of members will increase, further enhancing the potential for faster growth.
“This Kopdes will become an instrument for circulating money in the village of Ranjeng, thus driving the economy here and, in aggregate, promoting economic growth nationally,” he said.
Nationally, thousands of Red and White Kopdes/Kel have been established, with the construction of their physical assets, including shops, warehouses, and other supporting infrastructure, now complete. In Serang Regency, there are eight Red and White Kopdes/Kel units, with 100 per cent of their construction completed.
The collaboration between Ministries and Agencies in accelerating the development of Red and White Kopdes/Kel underscores the commitment of the government under President Prabowo Subianto to ensure that the mandate of Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution is realised through the Red and White Kopdes/Kel.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Village and Transmigration Development, Yandri Susanto, emphasised the importance of inter-ministerial collaboration in advancing villages. He cited Ranjeng Village as a clear example of the success of cross-sectoral synergy, enabling the effective operation of the Red and White Kopdes.
“This Kopdes serves as an effective tool in efforts to ensure that the welfare of the community is truly equitable in villages, so everyone must support villages by providing affirmation through business and economic activities through the Kopdes,” said Yandri.
He hopes that after the Red and White Kopdes operates in each village, local governments can conduct more in-depth considerations regarding the issuance of new permits for the establishment of minimarket outlets. However, for existing and operating minimarkets, the Minister emphasised that they should continue to carry out their business activities.
“Let us make this Kopdes a success, from the people, by the people, and for the people, because at least 20 per cent of all its profits will be returned as village income,” he said.
The Minister of Social Affairs, Syaifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul), emphasised that social assistance recipients should not only receive protection but also be directed towards empowerment through village cooperatives. He stressed the importance of accurate data in the implementation of social programs, as instructed in Presidential Instruction No. 4/2025.
Through the Red and White Kopdes, all three strata of community life will be accommodated. Furthermore, he emphasised that the transformation of social assistance recipients into members of village cooperatives is a rational choice.
“If these PKH beneficiaries become members of the Kopdes, at the end of each year they will receive a share of the profits. This is intended to empower, make them more independent, and improve their welfare,” he said.
On the other hand, the Head of BP Taskin, Budiman Sudjatmiko, emphasised that community-based programs such as the Red and White Kopdes, BUMDes (Village-Owned Enterprises), and People’s Schools are implemented systematically and massively simultaneously. According to him, these programs reflect the government’s commitment to the community, especially those from poor families.
BP Taskin is present as an agency that will help synergise all these priority community programs to ensure that efforts to reduce poverty can proceed quickly, effectively, and sustainably.
“In the past, assistance to the poor was only charity. With BP Taskin, we are building an ecosystem so that communities can empower themselves,” he said.
The Regional Secretary of Banten Province, Deden Apriandhi, described the Red and White Kopdes in Ranjeng Village as a national pilot project because it has complete management and business units.
The Serang Regional Government is committed to ensuring that all priority government programs can run smoothly in Serang Regency, thus helping to accelerate efforts to reduce poverty.
(anl/ega)