The Ministry of Religious Affairs, through the Directorate General of Hindu Community Guidance, continues to accelerate human resource development and empower Hindu communities across Indonesia. These efforts reflect the Ministry’s commitment to supporting the Asta Cita vision of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, particularly the priorities of strengthening Pancasila ideology, democracy, and human rights, as well as promoting development from villages and grassroots communities to ensure more equitable economic growth.

In its performance report for the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years, the Directorate General of Hindu Community Guidance highlighted a range of strategic initiatives designed to address the direct needs of Hindu communities. These initiatives encompass economic empowerment, educational assistance, the construction of accessible and healthy places of worship, and the accelerated rehabilitation of places of worship damaged by disasters.

In the area of community economic empowerment, the Directorate General implemented an economic empowerment program at one location in 2025, focusing on strengthening community-based economic activities. Efforts to optimize social funds through the Hindu Community Fund Management Agency (Badan Pengelola Dana Umat Hindu or BDDN) also resulted in significant disbursements. In 2025, Rp2.73 billion was allocated across six funding pillars, with social and humanitarian initiatives accounting for 49 percent and investment for 46 percent.

In 2026, BDDN continued distributing social funds, disbursing Rp427.6 million. The largest allocations went to the Pandita and Pinandita pillar, which received 34 percent, and Hindu Religious Organizations, which received 26 percent. These initiatives are expected to strengthen the independence of religious institutions and improve the welfare of Hindu religious leaders.

In education, the government continues to provide support through Program Indonesia Pintar or PIP for students at Widyalaya, Hindu educational institutions. In 2025, a total of 1,455 students across the Adi, Madyama, and Utama Widyalaya levels received assistance amounting to Rp1.1 billion. For 2026, PIP assistance for Widyalaya students has been allocated through the Center for Religious Education and Religious Affairs Personnel (Pusat Pendidikan dan Pelatihan Keagamaan or Puspenma).

Support also extends to higher education students through Kartu Indonesia Pintar Kuliah or KIP Kuliah. These programs are covering both ongoing and new KIP scholarships that have been distributed across nine Hindu religious higher education institutions nationwide, consisting of UNHI Denpasar, ITP Markandeya Bali, STAH Dharma Nusantara Jakarta, and STKIP Agama Hindu Singaraja. Academic Achievement Improvement Scholarships (Beasiswa Peningkatan Prestasi Akademik or PPA) are also being provided to nurture outstanding Hindu human resources equipped to compete in an increasingly demanding environment.

As part of its commitment to inclusive public services, the Directorate General provides assistance for the construction and rehabilitation of places of worship. In 2025, a total of 91 places of worship received assistance amounting to Rp11.37 billion. The funding supported the construction and rehabilitation of Pura in various provinces.

The Ministry also places strong emphasis on environmental sustainability and accessibility. Through its 2025 assistance program for the construction and rehabilitation of accessible and healthy places of worship, 16 locations received a total of Rp1.6 billion. The program aims to provide appropriate worship facilities for vulnerable groups, persons with disabilities, and children.

The government has also continued to respond swiftly to disasters. In 2025, 10 places of worship affected by disasters received assistance totaling Rp1 billion. In Bali Province, the government allocated Rp2 billion in 2026 to rehabilitate 38 disaster-affected places of worship, enabling Hindu communities to resume their religious activities in a safe and peaceful environment.

Additional assistance in 2026 supported the construction and rehabilitation of 15 places of worship, with a total allocation of Rp2 billion. A further Rp600 million was allocated to three locations in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost regions, commonly known as 3T areas.

Beyond construction and rehabilitation, the government also provided operational assistance to places of worship in 2025. A total of 15 locations received Rp750 million to support effective management and the sustainability of their operations. To facilitate religious ceremonies and funeral rites, assistance for the construction of funeral facilities and crematoriums was also provided in 2025 to three locations in Sorong, Palangka Raya, and East Kolaka, with each location receiving Rp 200 million.

Through these achievements, the Directorate General of Hindu Community Guidance reaffirms its role as a public institution committed to serving Hindu communities, improving the quality of religious life, and advancing social justice for all Indonesians. Collaboration among the central government, regional administrations, and local communities will continue to be strengthened to ensure inclusive and sustainable development in line with the nation's aspirations.

Contributor : I Made Juni Saputra

Photographer : I Gede Dipayana