DKI Jakarta Phase 2 Cash Social Assistance Has Been Overdue To The Reason For Updating The Data

JAKARTA - Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ahmad Riza Patria, explained the reason for the delay in the second cash social assistance (BST) in February that was distributed by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government through the DKI Bank account.

According to Riza, there was an increase in the number of BST recipients for the second phase of the distribution of the first stage BST in January 2021. Because of this, the recipient's data is up to date.

In the first phase in February, there were 1,805,216 beneficiaries. This figure increased from the first stage of 1,192,098 beneficiary families (KPM).

"There is data updating of aid recipients through the village deliberation mechanism involving community participation", said Riza in a virtual discussion, Wednesday, March 10.

Data updating was carried out and adjusted back to the BST recipient category. Among other things, some beneficiaries have died, moved from the city of Jakarta, changed their marital status, so that they already have a steady income.

Deputy Governor Riza considered the distribution of BST to have advantages compared to cash social assistance which was a government program last year, before finally being changed to BST due to a corruption case.

In the basic food assistance scheme, which became a social safety net program last year, the government appointed certain companies to provide basic food supplies. That way, the parties who benefit from providing social assistance are limited to companies, foodstuff producers, and distributors.

"Now with money, then we are the first to receive, buy groceries around houses, stalls, markets. This drives the economy. The circulation of money is evenly distributed throughout the region", he said.

Then, the community has the flexibility to choose which types of staples they will buy using BST funds. "In the past, the basic needs were determined. Now it is not determined. Receive the money, please choose the basic food needed, want to buy rice, want to buy flour, want to buy sugar, want to buy oil, and so on. The important thing is not to buy cigarettes and alcohol", he continued.

Meanwhile, the amount of money received is confirmed to be intact with a nominal value of IDR 300 thousand. Riza said this is different from cash social assistance that goes through taking profits from companies, distributors, to basic food factories.

"I personally and all of us from the start asked that the provision of social assistance here not in the form of basic food packages. I disagreed from the start. I have told you at that time, in the future we will try to do it through direct cash assistance (BLT). Alhamdulillah, the central government has a different idea the same, it's just changed its name to BST", said Riza.

Previously, many DKI residents questioned the BST from the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government in February that it had not been disbursed. They are confused, until now, the nominal BST deposit of Rp. 300 thousand in the DKI Bank account has not been received.

One of them, the Twitter account @fikcrips asked the official account of the DKI Pemprov, @DKIJakarta regarding the timing of disbursing BST from Bank DKI. "Dear @DKIJakarta BST that via the ATM bank in February, when will it come out?", wrote @fikcripts on Tuesday, March 2.