Allegedly Underprivileged Elderly Residents Yet to Receive Social Assistance, Langau Hamlet Residents Urge Paya Lombang Village Government to Reassess Beneficiary Data

SERDANG BEDAGAI, SDICTV.ID – A number of elderly residents (senior citizens) believed to be living in poverty in Langau Hamlet (Hamlet IX), Paya Lombang Village, Tebing Tinggi District, Serdang Bedagai Regency, North Sumatra, are reportedly yet to receive the social assistance they are eligible for.

Langau Hamlet is one of the fifteen hamlets within Paya Lombang Village. Located in a remote area bordering Bandar Khalipah District, the settlement is often referred to by local residents as a "hidden hamlet" due to its considerable distance from the village administrative center.

According to information gathered by SDICTV from local residents, several elderly people continue to live under difficult economic conditions. Residents are urging the village government to conduct a comprehensive reassessment and verification of beneficiary data to ensure that social assistance programs are accurately targeted and reach those who genuinely qualify.

"We hope there will be no more elderly people in genuine need who are left out of the government's social assistance database," a local resident told SDICTV.

Residents believe that the geographical challenges of Langau Hamlet should not become an obstacle to the collection of accurate data or the distribution of government assistance. They are calling on the village administration to regularly verify and update beneficiary records so that no impoverished or vulnerable elderly residents are overlooked.

From a legal standpoint, Article 34 paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia states that the poor and neglected children shall be cared for by the State. This constitutional provision affirms the government's responsibility—both at the national and regional levels—to provide social protection for citizens in need.

Furthermore, Law No. 13 of 2011 on the Handling of the Poor mandates that both the central and regional governments conduct proper data collection, verification, validation, and the provision of services to impoverished citizens in accordance with prevailing laws and regulations.

Meanwhile, Law No. 6 of 2014 on Villages, as amended, requires village governments to administer governance in a transparent, accountable, and orderly manner while prioritizing the welfare and public interests of the community.

If the assistance program is financed through the Village Fund, its implementation must also comply with government regulations governing Village Fund priorities, emphasizing the principles of fairness, transparency, accountability, and accurate targeting.

SDICTV emphasizes that this report is based on allegations and public aspirations that still require clarification from the Paya Lombang Village Government and other relevant authorities. Therefore, the editorial team expects the village administration to provide an official explanation regarding the mechanism for determining social assistance beneficiaries, the legal basis for beneficiary selection, field verification results, and any evaluation measures if eligible residents have indeed been excluded from the program.

As a media organization committed to balanced journalism under Law No. 40 of 1999 on the Press, particularly Article 1 point 11 concerning the Right of Reply and Article 5 paragraphs (2) and (3) concerning the obligation of the press to serve the Right of Reply and Right of Correction, SDICTV welcomes clarification and official responses from the Paya Lombang Village Government, the Tebing Tinggi District Administration, the Serdang Bedagai Regency Government, and other relevant institutions to ensure balanced and accurate reporting in accordance with the Indonesian Journalistic Code of Ethics.

Reporter: Suprida Hanum

Editor: M. Ramadhani

www.sdictv.id