Digital Transformation of Social Assistance Begins, Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs and Luhut Affirm Commitment
Jakarta – The government continues to strengthen digital transformation in the distribution of social assistance (bansos) as part of the Social Protection Program reform. Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs (Menkomdigi) Meutya Hafid emphasized her ministry’s full commitment to ensuring the digital infrastructure supporting this program runs optimally and securely.
“We are testing the system’s security with the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN). We are currently testing the system’s resilience in dealing with large data surges. This is crucial for the program to run smoothly,” said Meutya after a coordination meeting with the National Economic Council (DEN) some time ago.
Meutya explained that the Government Service Connector System (SPLP), the backbone of the digitalization of social assistance, is ready for operation. The SPLP will serve as a link between data and services within the Electronic-Based Government System (SPBE) implemented by various ministries, institutions, and local governments. She also emphasized the importance of cross-agency data transparency to ensure the distribution of social assistance is targeted.
In line with this, DEN Chairman Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan stated that digitizing social assistance is one of President Prabowo Subianto’s top priorities in improving the national social protection system. To this end, the government is preparing a new digital platform called the Perlinsos Portal, which will integrate digital identity (DPI), biometric data, and SPLP as a data exchange platform.
“One of the main initiatives we are preparing is the Perlinsos Portal, an integrated platform supported by DPI as a digital population identity, biometric data as an authentication tool, and SPLP as a Data Exchange Platform,” said Luhut.
The Perlinsos Portal will enable the public to verify, register, and manage social assistance independently, quickly, and transparently. To test the effectiveness of this system, the government will implement a pilot project in Banyuwangi Regency, which is considered to have adequate digital infrastructure and a strong commitment from the local government.
“Banyuwangi Regency was designated as a national pilot location due to its digital infrastructure readiness and the local government’s commitment to encouraging innovation in public services,” said Luhut.
He also emphasized that the results of this project must be thoroughly evaluated as a basis for replicating the digital social assistance model nationally.
“I also ask that this excellent collaboration continue to be developed, and that the evaluation process be carried out at every stage,” he emphasized.
To support this new digital system, the government is also updating the social assistance database by launching the National Socioeconomic Single Data (DTSEN) to replace the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS). Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, also known as Gus Ipul, explained that DTSEN was designed to clean up invalid data and include new recipients who truly meet the criteria.
“So far, there have been 1.9 million beneficiary families (KPM) who do not meet the criteria,” he said.
He added that the transition process to DTSEN is ongoing and may cause temporary delays in disbursing aid to new recipients.
“They can, but it won’t be immediately available because they have to open an account for the 1.9 million. This is because these are new recipients, new beneficiaries,” he explained.
This collaborative effort across ministries and institutions is expected to accelerate the digital transformation of public services, increase efficiency, and ensure accuracy and transparency in the distribution of social assistance throughout Indonesia.
