11.7 Percent of Indonesian People Entering Old Age | OBROLANBISNIS.com — Minister of Population and Family Development (Mendukbangga)/Head of BKKBN, Wihaji explained that there are 11.7 percent of Indonesian people who are entering old age.
According to him, this figure is estimated to increase to 20 percent in 2045.
“One of the challenges of the elderly is loneliness, therefore, we implement various programs to support them. You only live once, don’t grow old meaninglessly,” said Wihaji while commemorating National Elderly Day (HLUN) 2025 in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta.
He explained that Kemendukbangga/BKKBN has an Empowered Elderly (Sidaya) program which includes activities such as Elderly Family Development (BKL) or elderly schools.
Then, elderly Entrepreneurs or entrepreneurship for the elderly, as well as the provision of elderly cards to make it easier for them to access facilities such as free public transportation, to discounts on train or plane tickets.
“We learned from the Jakarta Provincial Government for this elderly card, in the future hopefully it can help the elderly to get certain discounts,” he said.
Currently, life expectancy in Indonesia has increased to 74.3 years, which means that the health level of the Indonesian people is also getting better.
“We hope that the Indonesian people who have paid taxes for 60 years, at least pay PBB, don’t let the state forget after the elderly, not take care of them, not give them anything, not give discounts, let them age meaninglessly,” he said.
He also explained that the Ministry of Education and Culture/BKKBN will also continue to work together across ministries/institutions, so that programs for the elderly can continue to run, for example in the BKL Program, which currently has 10 schools in Jakarta.
In the BKL Program, the elderly will graduate at the S1, S2, and S3 levels.
“Don’t imagine that senior schools are like schools in general, because there are no lessons in those schools, the content is just laughing, singing, religious studies, gymnastics, or having breakfast together for example,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Regional Secretary of Jakarta Province, Marullah Matali, said that currently the number of BKL in Jakarta has reached 534 groups with a total of 10,267 members.
Meanwhile, the number of senior schools in DKI Jakarta is 10 with a total of 2,006 students. A total of 309 senior school students in Jakarta have attended the grand graduation of senior schools for S1 and S2 levels.
“Bina Keluarga Lansia in Jakarta plays a role in improving the welfare of the elderly through the care and role of the family so that the elderly can be healthy, active, independent, productive, and dignified,” he said.
Marullah explained that the BKL-based Senior School formed in Jakarta aims to improve the quality of life of the elderly, maintain their health, and encourage active participation in social life. ***
