BPS blames outdated data for errors in welfare decile classifications

At a forum in East Jakarta, BPS’s Setia Pramana highlighted that the recent controversy over decile assignments is linked to data that has not yet been updated. Deciles, which categorize households within the Socio-Economic Single Data (DSTEN) framework, incorporate over 40 indicators such as housing quality, assets and sanitation access. While the agency’s error rate for including ineligible recipients and omitting eligible ones has improved to 23% from 37%, inaccuracies persist due to stale records, classification mistakes and difficult terrain.

He noted that when distribution targets exceed set quotas, discrepancies increase. BPS, together with the Ministry of Social Affairs and other ministries, is working to refine the statistical models and refresh the data. The agency stressed that deciles are relative welfare measures, not fixed income thresholds, and that accurate data is essential for directing government assistance to the right households.