Indonesia socio-economic decile data accuracy under scrutiny

Discrepancies in socio-economic decile data have come under scrutiny by the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI). Residents in Pamekasan have reported concerns regarding sudden changes in their decile status, which can impact their eligibility for government social assistance programs.

Deciles are used within the National Single Socio-Economic Data (DTSEN) to categorize families into ten groups based on relative welfare, ranging from extreme poverty (Decile 1) to super-rich (Decile 10). According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), these rankings are determined by various factors beyond income, including housing conditions, access to clean water, energy sources, asset ownership, electricity consumption, education, and health.

Lawmaker Hj Ansari has urged citizens to be proactive in verifying their data. If a discrepancy is found between official records and actual living conditions, residents are encouraged to use available update mechanisms, such as the Ministry of Social Affairs' 'Cek Bansos' website or the SIKS-NG system, to request corrections.