Banyuwangi appointed as pilot site for social empowerment programme

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2 hours ago

Banyuwangi, East Java (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Social Affairs Ministry has selected Banyuwangi District in East Java as a pilot project area for Social and Economic Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation Program (PPSE), following the success on digitalisation of social protection programmes.

Expert Staff at the Minister, Andy Kurniawan, said the appointment was linked to the success of Banyuwangi in piloting social protection digitalisation, a programme that has since expanded to 43 districts and cities across Indonesia.

“We cannot test this poverty alleviation model in many places at once, we have to focus on a specific location. That is why we chose Banyuwangi as a pilot model and we hope the success of the social protection programme is repeated here,” Kurniawan said in a written statement received here on Saturday.

He explained the program will develop an empowerment model for beneficiary families.

By so, they no longer depend solely on social assistance, but capable to build economic capacity, own assets, gain access to business opportunities, and eventually become independent and graduate from social aid.

Kurniawan added the PPSE is an empowerment programme covering both social and economic aspects through individual and group approaches, carried out by strengthening capabilities, asset ownership, and access to improve the welfare of beneficiary families.

The programme targets beneficiary families who are receiving Family Hope Programme (PKH) aid, basic food assistance, and parents of students at Sekolah Rakyat.

Priority is given to the residents included in deciles one to four based on National Socioeconomic Data (DTSEN), aged 19 to 64, who have received PKH and/or basic food assistance for at least one year.

Beneficiary families that have already started small businesses will be prioritised, as the programme is directed at strengthening existing economic activity. It may also be extended to residents facing social risks that meet set criteria.