Social Agency Urged to Strengthen Pusdatin Amid Jakarta Welfare Data Crisis
Reported by Fakhrizal Fakhri | Translated by Nugroho Adibrata
Jakarta Legislative Council Commission E Chairman, M. Subki called on the Jakarta Social Services Agency to strengthen its Data and Information Center (Pusdatin) to resolve ongoing inaccuracies in social welfare desil classifications.
Flawed desil data is causing major public anxiety
Subki noted that faulty desil classifications continue to trigger widespread public distress, directly disrupting key municipal assistance programs such as the Jakarta Smart Card (KJP), BPJS Kesehatan coverage, and the Jakarta Superior Student Card (KJMU).
"Flawed desil data is causing major public anxiety, resulting in canceled KJP grants and disrupted health coverage for residents," he emphasized.
Regional General Hospital Executive Services Are a Cross-Subsidy Scheme, Commission E SaysHe argued that national welfare standards fail in Jakarta, where higher living costs demand localized metrics to prevent eligible families from losing aid.
Jakarta cannot be measured by national averages. High costs of living distort the data, making national indicators inaccurate for our residents.
"Everything hinges on data. We already have Pusdatin, Jakarta's social information center. We must empower it to drive sharper, more targeted decisions on welfare desiles," he added.
He argued that Jakarta must manage its own welfare data for locally funded programs. While central government assistance can follow national frameworks, municipal APBD-funded aid requires independent, city-tailored data.
"Most of this social aid is funded directly by our city budget. If it is our money, why aren't we managing the data ourselves? Jakarta's cost of living demands a completely different standard," Subki noted.