President Prabowo: Indonesia Has One of the World’s Strongest Social Protection Systems
President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that Indonesia currently possesses a social protection system that is considered one of the strongest in the world. The President conveyed this statement during a Plenary Cabinet Meeting at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Monday (07/20).
“I would like to emphasize that we have a social protection system, a welfare state, that is one of the strongest in the world. If we run through the programs one by one, many of them were implemented by the previous Presidents and administrations,” the President stated.
The Head of State explained that the Government’s commitment to protecting the public is realized through various programs that reach diverse groups of beneficiaries. These include the Family Hope Program (PKH), People’s School (Sekolah Rakyat) program, Smart Indonesia Card for College (KIP Kuliah), Smart Indonesia Program (PIP), food assistance cards, and other social assistance programs.
“[We also provide] socio-economic empowerment assistance and self-help housing assistance worth Rp20 million per house for 400,000 beneficiaries. Later, I [would like to] ask the Minister of Housing and the Minister of Social Affairs to review whether the number of beneficiaries should be increased so the index can be reduced, perhaps, by providing building materials instead of cash,” he said.
The Government also supports public welfare through the Housing Financing Liquidity Facility (FLPP), disaster assistance, LPG subsidies, as well as subsidies and compensation for diesel, Pertalite, and electricity. It also includes train and sea transportation fare discounts, food assistance, the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, and the Free Health Checkups (CKG) program.
“The Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program targets 74.56 million students, pregnant women, nursing mothers, toddlers, and senior citizens. The Free Health Checkups Program targets 130.8 million people. This is the first time for [our people to get] free health checks. We check, we know the conditions, we find the problems, and we figure out what we have to do,” he remarked.
In addition to strengthening social protection, the President conveyed that the Government also continues to invest in human capital development through internship programs for fresh graduates, the Garuda Excellence School program, and various scholarship schemes. According to him, Indonesia’s achievements in building this system are the result of collective and sustained efforts since the early days of independence.
“We should never underestimate ourselves. We are strong, we are rich, and we will be richer. We will be wealthier,” the President concluded. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (YA/MMB)
