Latest Data From Local Government, Ministry Of Social Budgeting Rp7.08 Trillion For Social Assistance 5.9 Million Citizens

JAKARTA - According to the latest data from local governments, the Ministry of Social Affairs has now prepared Rp7.08 trillion for social assistance (bansos). The funds will be given to 5.9 million Beneficiary Families (KPM) during the Emergency PPKM period.

"They are completely new, the data is from the regional government. The assistance is Rp200,000/KPM during July-December 2021," said Social Minister Tri Rismaharini in a statement received in Jakarta, Tuesday, July 20.

She asked the public to be calm because during an emergency the government distributes quite a variety of assistance to the community.

In addition, a new policy launched in order to reduce the burden on the community along with the Implementation of the Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) is the distribution of rice.

The Ministry of Social Affairs distributed five kilograms of rice specifically for informal sector workers affected by the pandemic in Java-Bali, namely in the Emergency PPKM implementation zone.

The recipients are food stall owners, street vendors, motorcycle taxi drivers, casual workers, day laborers, contract employees, and so on, who cannot work due to activity restrictions.

The Ministry of Social Affairs has prepared a total of 2,010 tons of rice. A total of 122 district/city governments received 3,000 packages of rice each (per package weighing five kilograms) and 6,000 packages (per package five kilograms) for the six provincial capitals.

The Ministry of Social Affairs has also partnered with Perum Bulog in distributing 10 kg/KPM of rice 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 one who distributes Perum Bulog, the Ministry of Social Affairs only sends recipient data to the Ministry of Finance. The total volume for rice from Perum Bulog is 200 million kg," she said.

With the help of rice, it is hoped that it will fulfill some of the basic needs of the KPM affected by the pandemic.

Risma stated that rice assistance in five-kilogram packages is also being distributed by the TNI-Polri.

In the context of implementing social protection programs, the Ministry of Social Affairs also optimizes the existing social assistance programs, namely PKH, BPNT/Sembako Cards, and BST. The third phase of PKH for July-August-September will be distributed in July 2021.

“The Ministry of Social Affairs also disbursed BST for 10 million KPM for two months, namely May-June, which was disbursed in July, then for 18.8 million KPM BPNT/Sembako Cards, they received an additional two months, namely in July and August, so they seemed to receive 14 months," she said.

For PKH, he reminded, even though the target for assistance was 10 KPM, the real thing that got PKH assistance was more than 33,674,865 people because assistance for PKH was based on the components in the family.

The budget for PKH is Rp28.3 trillion and BPNT/Kartu Sembako is Rp42.3 trillion, which is channeled through the Association of State-Owned Banks (Himbara). For BST, a budget of Rp15.1 trillion was distributed by PT Pos Indonesia.

"With these three social assistances, it is hoped that it will increase people's purchasing power," said Risma.

In following up on President Joko Widodo's directive to speed up the distribution of social assistance to beneficiaries, Risma continued to move from door to door, such as on Sunday, checking the distribution of social assistance to beneficiaries of BST, BPNT/Sembako Program, and PKH in Surakarta City.