Solo, Central Java (ANTARA) - Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf is shifting the focus from direct social assistance to empowering underprivileged families, aiming to foster economic independence and transition them into self-sufficient contributors.
"The President has tasked us, along with the Deputy Minister of Social Affairs, with enhancing social welfare. Our goal is to see a consistent increase in prosperous families, not a decline," he stated during a meeting with government aid beneficiaries on Sunday.
To achieve this, the ministry is implementing capital assistance and empowerment programs, moving away from traditional aid distribution.
"With the guidance of advisors, beneficiaries are mentored and directed towards self-sufficiency, transitioning from social assistance to capital assistance," he explained.
The Ministry's objective is to enable beneficiary families to achieve economic independence, rather than remaining long-term aid recipients.
Currently, the government provides staple food assistance (Rp200,000 per month) to 39,497 families, administers the Keluarga Harapan Program to 19,763 recipients (Rp54 billion total disbursement), and supports 793 orphans with Rp2 billion annually.
Additionally, 178,654 individuals receive BPJS health insurance assistance, totaling Rp90 billion.
Minister Yusuf has set a target for each mentor to guide at least ten families towards prosperity annually.
"We are committed to integrating programs between the Social Affairs Ministry, provincial governments, and the Surakarta city government, ensuring measurable program implementation," he concluded.
