Ministry of Social Affairs employs technology to correct inaccurate social protection data
Sumedang (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) is utilising technology to correct social protection data that does not align with actual field conditions, including through re-registration and biometric verification of aid recipients.
Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, speaking in Sumedang on Thursday, stated that digitalisation is necessary so that the determination of aid eligibility does not rely solely on administrative data, but can be verified against the actual conditions and identities of the community.
“We are introducing technology to ensure greater objectivity. This technology is expected to create fairness within existing social protection programmes,” he said.
He noted that the social protection system currently being developed by the government covers more than five million families and will continue to expand until it reaches the target of 48 million families, making data accuracy a critical necessity in its implementation.
According to him, the Ministry of Social Affairs is conducting a re-registration of social assistance recipients supported by biometrics and facial recognition to ensure that those recorded in the system are the genuine beneficiaries.
The Minister revealed that data updates have also uncovered cases where individuals’ National Identity Numbers (NIK) were exploited by others to purchase cars and land, establish companies, or even be recorded as company directors, necessitating stronger identity verification.
On the other hand, citizens deemed ineligible for aid by the system can still apply for corrections if their actual circumstances still require assistance, by submitting updated data to be synchronised based on field conditions.
“It is this technology that we hope will help ensure that social protection outreach can be broader and more precisely targeted,” he said.
The Ministry of Social Affairs has also opened several update channels, ranging from a command centre, WhatsApp Centre, and ground checks to the ‘Cek Bansos’ application and the Next Generation Social Welfare Information System (SIKS-NG), allowing social protection data to be continuously monitored and improved.