Ministry of Social Affairs Awards Representatives from Tagana in 38 Provinces

The Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemensos) held the Santiaji event as part of the commemoration of the 22nd anniversary of Taruna Siaga Bencana (Tagana) under the theme ‘22 Years of Service: One Synergy for the Nation’s Resilience’ at the Aneka Bhakti Building, Ministry of Social Affairs, Jakarta. This event was combined with the Commemoration Flag Raising Ceremony for Tagana’s 22nd Anniversary as well as a Grand Reunion (halalbihalal) for the extended Tagana family, attended by Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul), Deputy Social Minister Agus Jabo Priyono, Kemensos officials, social service agency heads from across Indonesia, and representatives from Tagana in 38 provinces. As a token of appreciation for Tagana’s dedication and service, Gus Ipul presented certificates of award to representatives from the 38 attending provinces. This award serves as a symbol of the state’s appreciation for Tagana’s tangible contributions to disaster management throughout Indonesia. The spirit of unity was also echoed through cheers led directly by Gus Ipul. “One command! One rule! One unity!” stated Gus Ipul in a written statement on Thursday (23/4/2026). This cheer was then responded to by Agus Jabo with the affirmation, “One command, one action!” A total of 1,102 participants attended the event, comprising elements from Tagana, Disaster-Resilient Villages (KSB), Disaster Response Units (Pordam), Karang Taruna, Banser, Sub-district Social Welfare Officers (TKSK), Community Social Workers (PSM), as well as all provincial social service agency heads and chairs of the provincial Tagana coordination forums across Indonesia. In his address, Gus Ipul explained that not many people know the history of Tagana’s formation, which began from limitations. Even in its journey, Tagana was once associated with ‘scrap vehicles’ as a symbol of simple struggles. Tagana did not emerge in a short time but through a long process full of doubts from various parties. However, from those simple beginnings, around 60 first-generation members continued to move forward to build the foundation of service. Over time, Tagana has proven its existence as a resilient social force in disaster management. Since its declaration on 25 March 2004 in Lembang, West Java, Tagana has grown into the forefront guard of humanitarian efforts. “Tagana is part of the pillars of the Ministry of Social Affairs that assists, especially during disasters in various places. Tagana friends are always present in the midst of disasters, from evacuation, emergencies, to rehabilitation and reconstruction,” said Gus Ipul. Gus Ipul also expressed appreciation for the dedication of thousands of Tagana volunteers. “We thank all Tagana cadres who have participated in mitigating disaster impacts, preparing logistics, setting up public kitchens, and providing psychosocial support,” he continued. Currently, there are around 35,000 Tagana members spread across Indonesia at the district/city and provincial levels. Gus Ipul also emphasised the importance of enhancing Tagana’s human resource capacity through continuous training as well as the role of disaster education in communities. “It is important for the Ministry of Social Affairs and local governments to continue improving the quality of Tagana’s human resources through training. In the future, Tagana is also expected to provide education to the community, including in schools in disaster-prone areas,” stated Gus Ipul. On the same occasion, Benni Suryadilaga, Chair of the Central Jakarta Tagana Coordination Forum, expressed his appreciation for Tagana’s long journey. “I am very pleased that Tagana has been able to persist and serve for 22 years. In the field, solidarity among personnel is the main key to facing various humanitarian tasks that are not light,” Benni concluded.