Malang (malangkota.go.id) – The Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Tri Rismaharini and the Indonesian Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani made a working visit to Pujon District, Malang Regency, East Java, Friday (20/1/2023).
The Minister of Social Affairs and the Minister of Finance distributed social assistance in the form of the Indonesian Economic Heroes (PENA) program, Integrated Welfare House (RST), ATENSI for Disabilities, ATENSI for Orphans, and the Food Program for the Elderly and Disabled.
Minister Risma said that the PENA program is an empowerment program in the form of business capital that aims to increase the income of poor and vulnerable people so that they are free from dependence on social assistance so that they can be productive and independent.
"The criteria for PENA recipients are active social assistance recipients with an age range of 20 to 40 years, prioritized recipients of the 2022 RST and 2021 RTLH (Uninhabitable House) programs, do not have elderly or disabled family members, and are not required to have a start-up business," he added.
Furthermore, the woman who once served as Mayor of Surabaya said that the PENA business cluster consists of food and beverages, crafts, services and trade, agriculture, and animal husbandry. "The PENA KPM in 2022 is 5.209 with details of 238 extreme poor, 4.971 poor. While in Malang Raya there are 443 KPM," explained Minister Risma.
Deputy Mayor of Malang Ir. H. Sofyan Edi Jarwoko who was also present on this occasion welcomed the program. According to him, many Malang City residents will be affected. Such as Herman Susanto, a resident of Balearjosari Village, Blimbing District who is pursuing a synthetic rattan business.
"Earlier, Herman was also asked by the Minister of Social Affairs and the Minister of Finance. From the Ministry of Social Affairs program that he has been running for the past few months, in one week he can earn up to one million rupiah. That is one proof and I think there are many other Hermans and even bigger profits. This program is very wild," he said.
The bespectacled man also admitted that his party would support and continue to provide reinforcement for empowerment programs like that. "If you get help, you have to run it well to become a successful businessman, which will automatically boost your economy," concluded the man who is often called Bung Edi. (say/yon)
