Digitizing Social Assistance is a Strategic Step for the Government to Ensure Targeted Distribution
Jakarta – The government continues to push for a transformation in the governance of social assistance (bansos) distribution through digitalization. The trial of a digital social assistance system, conducted through the social protection portal (Perlinsos), is considered capable of increasing transparency, expanding public participation, and strengthening program accountability.
Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul) emphasized that the digitization of social assistance is an important step in opening up space for public involvement. Through this new system, the public can submit suggestions and objections directly. According to him, previously, data collection on social assistance recipients was largely handled by the government. Now, the space for public participation is being expanded to make the process more inclusive and transparent.
“Now we want to expand public participation, giving everyone the opportunity to submit suggestions or objections,” said Gus Ipul at the Government Digital Transformation Acceleration Committee (KPTDP) meeting in Banyuwangi, East Java, Thursday (October 2).
This digitalization has been piloted for three months, covering the Family Hope Program (PKH) and Non-Cash Food Assistance. Tubagus Nugraha, Executive Director of Priority Program Policy Synchronization at the National Economic Council (DEN), stated that the social assistance registration mechanism has become simpler. People only need to verify their identity using facial recognition and biometrics technology via smartphone.
“The system will verify the eligibility of aid recipients. A panel of experts from the Ministry of Social Affairs, BPS, and relevant ministries will assess the eligibility of beneficiary groups. Of the target of 320,000 applicants, 260,000 have been registered to date,” explained Tubagus.
The Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, emphasized that this program also supports the updating of the National Socioeconomic Single Data (DTSEN). According to her, data accuracy is key to ensuring more targeted social assistance distribution.
“Collaboration on social assistance digitalization is crucial in modernizing the updating and management of the National Data Entity Data (DTSEN) so that social assistance distribution will be more accurate and tailored to needs,” said Amalia.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB), Purwadi Arianto, added that his office plays a role in connecting ministries, institutions, and local governments to ensure this pilot project aligns with the one-data concept.
“We are striving to collaborate with all parties so that the sustainability of this activity can be replicated in other regions,” he said.
The Regent of Banyuwangi, Ipuk Fiestiandani, whose region is the pilot site, expressed her appreciation to the central government. She believes this program will significantly benefit communities on the ground.
“We are ready to fully support this social assistance digitalization program. If successful, the community will experience tangible benefits because aid will be more targeted and accountability will be maintained,” said Ipuk.
Through this step, social assistance digitalization is expected to create transparent, participatory, and efficient aid governance, while simultaneously strengthening public trust in government social protection programs.
