Social Assistance And BLT, Government Disburses Budget Of IDR 28.8 Trillion

The Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) has prepared a budget of IDR 28.8 trillion for assistance to the community consisting of social assistance (bansos) for rice, chicken meat, and eggs for the period January to June 2024 amounting to IDR 17.5 trillion and direct cash assistance (BLT) mitigating food risk of IDR 11.3 trillion.

Director General of Budget Isa Rachmatarwata said the assistance would be given to the recipients of the Family Hope Program (PKH) which reached 18.8 million families. Then, families who have stunting toddlers will get additional assistance in the form of chicken and eggs.

"Once again, rice, chicken and egg social assistance from January to June 2024, that's a budget of IDR 17.5 trillion," he said at a press conference on the APBN KITA, Thursday, February 22.

Isa added that regarding the continuation of social assistance in the future, a review will be carried out after the government will decide in the next three months.

"Later after 3 months we will conduct a review and will be able to get a clearer picture," he said.

Isa added that in addition to food social assistance, the government has also prepared a budget for direct cash assistance (BLT) to mitigate food risk on the first three months of 2024 worth IDR 11.3 trillion, which is a continuation of BLT El Nino.

"For direct cash assistance, the budget reaches Rp11.3 trillion, all of which have been prepared from social assistance expenditure reserves, which have been prepared every year of the budget," he explained.