Social Affairs Ministry strengthens social protection through digitalisation and data updates

The Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) is pushing for the strengthening of social protection through continuously updated data, the digitalisation of social assistance, and community involvement.

This was stated by Andy Kurniawan, Expert Advisor to the Minister of Social Affairs for Planning and Strategic Policy Evaluation, during a discussion on Decile Determination Methodology and Poverty Measurement in Indonesia at the STIS Polytechnic Statistics Auditorium, Jakarta, on Friday.

Andy stated that data serves as a vital foundation for the Ministry in distributing social assistance to those in need. “The Ministry’s scope involves using data to distribute social assistance,” said Andy.

Applications for assistance are also being directed towards a digital process using identity numbers and biometrics. The system then matches this information with government administrative data to assess the socio-economic conditions and eligibility of citizens.

Andy noted that the system requires constantly updated data because the socio-economic conditions of the population are subject to change.

On the other hand, not all members of the public are able to register digitally. Consequently, the government is encouraging the National Movement to Care for Neighbours through ‘Perlinsos Agents’ to assist needy citizens, including those without mobile devices.

Perlinsos Agents can be drawn from various community elements, such as neighbourhood heads (RT/RW), social assistants, PKK, religious study groups, community savings groups (arisan), journalists, and local community leaders (Babinsa).

“Anyone can become a Perlinsos agent,” said Andy.

The government targets more than 50 million families to be included in the social assistance digitalisation system by the end of 2026.