Social Affairs Ministry Deploys Team to East Manggarai After Report of Elderly Resident Not Receiving Aid
The Ministry of Social Affairs is responding to information regarding an elderly resident in East Manggarai Regency who is living in distressing conditions and reportedly has not yet received social assistance.
Director General of Social Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Soepomo, stated that his agency has sent officers and coordinated with the local social services office to ensure prompt handling.
“We are concerned about the circulating information regarding the condition of an elderly person in East Manggarai who is said not to have received social assistance. We immediately sent officers and coordinated with the local Social Services Office,” Soepomo said in a written statement on Thursday (19/3/2026).
Soepomo explained that the government is currently updating its database through the National Socio-Economic Single Data (DTSEN), compiled by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). This step is aimed at improving the accuracy and targeting of social assistance recipients.
According to him, the ‘still in process’ status in this case indicates that the individual’s data is undergoing verification and validation by the local government along with social companions. The data is also in the process of being updated into DTSEN.
“This means the data in question is being verified and validated. This process is important to ensure that social assistance truly reaches the right targets, but in urgent conditions, assistance must not be delayed just waiting for the administrative process to be completed,” he said.
As a follow-up, the Ministry of Social Affairs has deployed a team and coordinated with the local social services office to immediately conduct a direct assessment of the resident’s condition. The ministry is also ensuring that the data is entered or updated in DTSEN, and preparing emergency assistance interventions through available programmes, including the Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) services.
Soepomo emphasised that administrative processes remain important to maintain targeting accuracy. However, this should not be a reason to delay assistance when a resident’s condition is already urgent.
“Local governments through social services offices have the authority to carry out temporary interventions or emergency assistance while waiting for the verification and validation process to be completed. This is important so that residents’ basic needs remain fulfilled and neglect does not occur,” he said.
He added that the Ministry of Social Affairs is also encouraging local governments to be more proactive in detecting vulnerable residents in the field, not delaying initial assistance, and optimising available resources and programmes for rapid handling.
“This case is a serious concern as well as material for joint evaluation so that the distribution of social assistance becomes faster, more targeted, and responsive. The state must be present not only through systems but also through real actions when residents need it most,” he concluded.