Government Launches Direct Cash Assistance (BLT Kesra) to Promote Equitable National Welfare
Jakarta – The government has officially launched the Direct Cash Assistance (BLT) for People’s Welfare (Kesra) program as a concrete step to promote equitable welfare across Indonesia.
This program is part of the national strategy to strengthen social protection, increase people’s purchasing power, and maintain economic stability amidst challenging global dynamics.
The government has disbursed social assistance (Bansos), the Direct Cash Assistance (BLT) for People’s Welfare (Kesra), for the period October to December 2025. Disbursements began on October 20, 2025.
This BLT Kesra is part of the year-end economic stimulus package specifically disbursed for the fourth quarter. The total BLT Kesra disbursement reaches IDR 900 trillion for three months.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that the program targets more than 35 million beneficiary families (KPM) and can reach approximately 140 million people, consisting of a father, mother, and two children, in Deciles 1 to 4, based on social data from the national economic census.
“The distribution of the People’s Welfare Direct Cash Assistance (BLT Kesejahteraan Rakyat) will be carried out through two mechanisms: the Association of State-Owned Banks (Himbara) and PT Pos Indonesia,” Airlangga said.
Of the total 35 million recipients, 18.3 million will receive it through banks and 17.2 million will receive it through PT Pos Indonesia.
For the record, the BLT Kesra (People’s Welfare Direct Cash Assistance) can be supplemented if recipients are already registered with the Ministry of Social Affairs’ social assistance program. They can receive assistance of up to IDR 1.5 million per family.
“Let’s say they receive Rp 600,000 in the fourth quarter. The President adds Rp 300,000 times 3. That’s Rp 900,000. So, in the fourth quarter, each family receiving basic food assistance will receive Rp 1.5 million,” said Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf, also known as Gus Ipul.
The BLT Kesra (Cash on Cash) is expected to be a catalyst for strengthening the regional economy. With increased household consumption, the local economy is expected to turn faster, especially in the MSME, traditional trade, and service sectors.
The government ensures that this program does not stand alone but is part of a broader welfare policy ecosystem, including food subsidies, educational assistance, and productive labor-intensive programs.
Thus, BLT Kesra is a crucial instrument in reducing social disparities and strengthening the economic resilience of grassroots communities.
