Jakarta, The Indonesia Post – The Ministry of Social Affairs seeks to accelerate the distribution of social assistance in the form of Cash Social Assistance (BST), BPNT (Non-Cash Food Assistance) or basic food cards, as well as the Family Hope Program (PKH) for areas affected by PPKM level 4.
“PKH, BPNT/Sembako Card and BST are the existing social assistance. This means that the program has been running before the level 4 policy for the Implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM),” said Social Minister Tri Rismaharini in a statement in Jakarta, Monday.
The Ministry of Social Affairs partners with Perum Bulog in distributing 10 kg of rice assistance for 10 million KPM PKH, 10 million KPM BST and 8.8 million KPM, Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT)/Non-PKH Basic Food Cards.
The government also allocates BST of Rp. 15.1 trillion for 10 million KPM for 2 months, namely May June 2021, which is disbursed in July 2021 of Rp. 600 thousand/KPM distributed by PT Pos Indonesia.
The allocation of BPNT/staple food cards of Rp42.3 trillion targeted 18.8 million KPM and received an additional two months, namely in July and August of Rp.200,000/per KPM per month which was channeled through the Association of State-Owned Banks (Himbara).
The PKH budget is IDR 28.3 trillion for 10 million KPM with three components, namely the components of health, education and social welfare (Kesos). The health component consists of pregnant/postpartum/breastfeeding women and toddlers. The education component consists of elementary/equivalent, junior high/equivalent, and high school/equivalent students, and the social welfare component consists of the elderly (elderly) and persons with disabilities.
The latest social assistance program is a policy to provide assistance for a completely new 5.9 million KPM with data proposed from local governments with an index of Rp. 200,000/KPM during July-December 2021. For this purpose, the Ministry of Social Affairs has allocated a budget of Rp. 7.08 trillion.
In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs also distributed 5 kg of rice assistance specifically for informal sector workers affected by the pandemic in Java and Bali, namely the PPKM implementation zone with the recipients being food stall owners, street vendors, motorcycle taxi drivers, casual workers, daily workers, contract employees, and so on, who cannot work due to activity restrictions.
The Ministry of Social Affairs prepared 2,010 tons of rice and 122 district/city governments received 3,000 packages of rice each (per package weighing 5 kg) and 6,000 packages (per package weighing 5 kg) for the six provincial capitals.
The assistance follows up on President Joko Widodo’s decision on the implementation of the Policy for the Implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) level 4 from 26 July to 2 August 2021.
Consideration of health aspects must be calculated carefully and at the same time, socio-economic aspects of the community, especially the fulfillment of daily needs must also be prioritized.
“To reduce the burden on the community affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has also increased the provision of social assistance for the community and micro and small businesses. A detailed explanation of this will be carried out by the coordinating minister or related ministers,” said the President at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. (rma/bbs)
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