By: Rivka Mayangsari*)
The government continues to strengthen reforms to the national social protection system through the Social Protection Digitalization Program (Perlinsos). This step is part of a major effort to ensure that social assistance is distributed more precisely, transparently, and easily accessible to the public. This transformation also marks the emergence of a new face of Indonesian social protection, utilizing digital technology to improve the quality of public services.
The Chairman of the National Economic Council, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, explained that the digitalization of social assistance is a strategic step by the government to improve the governance of social assistance distribution. According to him, through a digitally integrated system, the aid distribution process can be carried out more accurately, ensuring that aid actually reaches those who are entitled to it. He also believes that the system will increase transparency and make it easier for the public to access various social assistance services provided by the government.
The digitalization of social assistance programs is currently in the pilot phase in 42 regencies and cities, reaching 35 million recipients. These pilots are part of the system’s refinement process before wider implementation across Indonesia. The government hopes that the experiences from these pilot regions will serve as a basis for strengthening the program’s effectiveness in subsequent phases.
In its implementation, the government is developing a digital social protection system based on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). This system integrates digital identity, inter-agency data exchange, and digital payment services within a single, interconnected ecosystem. This digital infrastructure is expected to simplify various administrative processes that have often been time-consuming and procedurally tedious.
One of the key innovations implemented is the use of facial biometric verification technology linked to population data from the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration (Dukcapil). This technology allows for more accurate verification of the identities of aid recipients, minimizing the risk of data errors and misuse of aid.
In addition, the government is preparing an official portal that will allow the public to independently access various social assistance services. Through this portal, residents can check their aid receipt status, obtain information regarding social welfare programs, and even apply for assistance using their National Identification Number (NIK). This convenience is expected to expand public access to social protection services and increase public participation in the data collection process.
The government emphasized that the Social Protection Digitalization Program (Perlinsos) is a commitment to ensuring that no citizen entitled to state assistance is overlooked in the data collection. This effort is crucial, given that data accuracy has long been a major challenge in administering social assistance programs.
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Robben Rico, stated that data improvement and integration are key agenda items in the reform of the national social protection system. He explained that the government is currently consolidating various previously separate data sources, including the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS), Socioeconomic Registration (Regsosek), and Targeting for the Acceleration of Extreme Poverty Eradication (P3KE), into a single, more integrated database.
According to Robben, this integration aims to produce more accurate data on the socioeconomic conditions of the community so that social assistance policies can be formulated based on real needs on the ground. With a stronger database, the government is expected to improve program targeting accuracy while optimizing the use of state funds for public welfare.
Meanwhile, Rahmat Andika, Coordinator of the Government’s Digital Transformation Acceleration Task Force, explained that the Perlinsos Portal is designed to expedite the registration and verification process for the public through the use of digital identity and an integrated data exchange system across ministries and agencies. He believes this integration will expedite services and increase transparency at every stage of the social assistance distribution process.
Rahmat also believes that a nationally connected digital system can reduce the potential for data duplication and minimize the possibility of administrative errors. This way, the government can provide more efficient services while increasing public trust in social protection programs.
The Perlinsos Digitalization Program demonstrates that digital transformation can be a crucial instrument in strengthening social justice. Through data integration, the use of modern technology, and the simplification of public services, the government strives to ensure that social assistance and various welfare programs can be effectively implemented.
In addition to improving the accuracy of social assistance distribution, digitalizing social protection is also a crucial foundation for realizing more modern and adaptive governance. With the support of digital technology, the government can monitor program implementation in real time, update data regularly, and respond more quickly to changes in the community’s socioeconomic conditions.
Amidst various development challenges, the digitalization of social assistance is laying a new foundation for Indonesia’s social protection system. This transformation not only strengthens the effectiveness of public services but also reflects the government’s commitment to building a modern, inclusive, and sustainable welfare system to achieve more equitable prosperity for all Indonesians.
*) Economic observer