Southwest Papua Launches Social Protection Program for The Elderly

On 17 July 2023, the SKALA Program supported the Government of Southwest Papua (PBD) to launch the Social Protection Program for The Elderly named PAITUA. The launch was symbolized by striking the Tifa (traditional music instrument) by the Acting Governor of PBD, Muhammad Musa’ad, witnessed by Australia’s Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia, Stephen Scott. On the same occasion, the Acting Governor of Papua, Muhammad Ridwan Rumasukun, and the Acting Governor of PBD also signed an agreement to share the usage of the BANGGA PAPUA Management Information System from the Papua Province. 

The PAITUA program is an initiative of the PBD Government that arises from the poor living conditions of the elderlies, totalling around 24,759 elderlies. In general, these elderlies live in poverty, without adequate monthly income, and suffers from poor health condition. The PAITUA program is for the citizens of Southwest Papua who are over 65 (sixty-five) years old, aimed to improve their welfare and living conditions. Furthermore, the PAITUA program also aimed to help increase people’s purchasing power. 

The financial assistance provided amounting to Rp.250,000 (two hundred fifty thousand rupiah) per month, of which Rp.150,000 (one hundred fifty thousand rupiah) is from the Provincial budget, whilst Rp.100,000 (one hundred thousand rupiah) assisted from the district/city. To ensure proper documentation process of the beneficiaries, the data collection and verification process will be carried out comprehensively. 

The distribution of funds will be through Bank BRI to help increase public access to banking and the civil registry’s coverage since the government will also help facilitate the beneficiaries to obtain the documents. 

On a separate occasion, the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia (Wapres) has expressed his appreciation for the PAITUA program as he considers the program to be good initiative to reduce poverty. “The main issue of being elderly is a scourge and a source of inequality, making protection for the elderlies as a must,” said Wapres K.H. Ma’ruf Amin, upon attending the groundbreaking of SBD Provincial Government Facilities at the Wombik Stadium, Sorong District. 

Additionally, the Vice President symbolically hand over the PAITUA Program to two of its beneficiaries, namely Ance Sok and Isak Sawisa. Furthermore, the Vice President requested that the distribution of PAITUA funds should aligned with the national programs to target the extremely poor accurately by utilising the Targeting Data for the Acceleration of the Elimination of Extreme Poverty (P3KE).