Gov’t Launches Direct Cash Assistance for 35 Million Families
In a bid to boost people’s purchasing power, expand job opportunities, and strengthen national economic growth, the Government Friday (10/17) officially launched the Direct Cash Assistance for People’s Welfare (BLT Kesra) and the College Graduate Internship Program.
According to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, President Prabowo Subianto urged that the assistance’s distribution be carried out from October to December 2025.
“It will be received by 35,046,783 beneficiary families. This figure is higher than the previous BLT, and if we assume one beneficiary family consists of a father, mother, and two children, the program will reach approximately 140 million people,” the Minister said.
Airlangga also explained that the assistance targets deciles 1 to 4 based on the National Socioeconomic Data (DSEN).
The program, he said, is in addition to the regular direct cash assistance distributed by Ministry of Social Affairs to 20.88 million beneficiary families under the Family Hope Program (PKH) and basic food assistance scheme.
Regarding the distribution of BLT Kesra, the Minister conveyed that the funds will be disbursed through the Association of State-Owned Banks (Himbara) to 18.3 million families starting next week, while PT Pos Indonesia will distribute the assistance to 17.2 million families beginning Monday.
“Today, we are symbolically distributing assistance to 50 recipients who have never received it before. This marks the first distribution to 17.2 million families, while regular distribution covers 18.2 million,” he added.
In addition to the BLT Kesra, the Government is also rolling out a university internship program for recent graduates.
“Fresh graduates will be placed in business and industry sectors, state-owned enterprises, government institutions, and Bank Indonesia. This program aims to encourage the creation of productive jobs across various sectors,” the Minister remarked. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (RIF/MMB)
