The Government Decided to Distribute All Social Assistance and Subsidized Goods through the Red and White Kopdes
JAKARTA - The government has decided that the Red and White Village/Neighborhood Cooperative will be the channel for distributing all social assistance and subsidized goods. The cooperative is not only prepared as a business place in the village, but also as a government distribution infrastructure.
Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan said the decision was made in a limited meeting at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Wednesday, July 15.
"The Red and White Village Cooperative as a government infrastructure will distribute all the assistance. Then also distribute all subsidized goods," said Zulkifli Hasan.
The man, who is familiarly called Zulhas, emphasized that the Red and White Kopdes was not well understood as a village supermarket. The government wants to use the cooperative network to bring assistance programs and subsidies directly to the community.
However, Zulhas has not detailed the types of social assistance and subsidized goods that are included in the scheme. He also has not explained when the full distribution through cooperatives will take effect.
This decision makes the Red and White Command play a major role in the government's distribution chain. The readiness of outlets, stock management, payment systems, and supervision will determine whether the assistance reaches the recipient without leakage.
On a separate occasion on the same day, Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf said that the distribution of assistance through cooperative outlets had been tested in a number of locations. The outlets are supported by banking services from state-owned banks.
Zulhas said the decision on the function of the cooperative had been made. The details of the implementation will be handled by the relevant ministries and agencies.
In addition to distributing assistance and subsidies, cooperatives are also prepared to be buyers of agricultural products when market prices fall below the government's set price.