Social Minister on the Transformation of Social Assistance Recipients into Members of Village Cooperatives: The Process Has Begun

Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul) revealed that the process of transforming and transitioning social assistance (bansos) recipients into members of the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (Kopdes) has begun. Gus Ipul stated that the simulation process has been carried out in the Purworejo and Serang Kopdes.

“We are starting this transition, we are encouraging it. We have tried simulations in two places. First, we were in Purworejo, and then in Serang. We are conducting trials to see how recipients of assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs will automatically become members of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative,” said Gus Ipul at his office in Senen District, Central Jakarta, Wednesday (February 25, 2026).

Gus Ipul said that this transformation is part of empowerment. He hopes that all social assistance recipients will eventually become members of the Kopdes.

“So, it’s empowerment for the beneficiary families. This process has begun, and hopefully, all of them can become members of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative in their respective areas by paying mandatory dues like other members,” he said.

Gus Ipul said that empowerment for beneficiary families will be carried out in the Kopdes. The assistance provided will be adjusted based on the results of the assessment.

“So, here it might be handicrafts, and there it might be animal husbandry, such as raising chickens. It depends on the results of the assessment,” he said.

He said that this transformation process is being carried out gradually, with initial trials in the Purworejo and Serang Kopdes. He said that his party, together with the Ministry of Cooperatives and the Ministry of Villages, continues to strengthen collaboration and create regulations regarding this transition.

“So, later there will be an economic empowerment program, and the results, for example, if they raise livestock, can be sold at the cooperative. The point is that they can become owners and also become buyers,” said Gus Ipul.

“And they can also sell their products. This is the ecosystem built by the Merah Putih Village Cooperative. We certainly hope that this will accelerate graduation,” he added.

Furthermore, Gus Ipul said that social assistance will continue to be provided during the transformation and transition process to the Kopdes. He said that if the empowerment is successful and the beneficiaries are independent, the assistance will be discontinued.

“Oh, yes, for now, it will continue. Later, we will measure if they are able to be independent, then we will stop. This is part of the program,” he concluded.