The Social Assistance Program Is Far From The Fire, The Government's PR Is Still Considered To Be Piling Up

Illustrations (Photo: Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Recently, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi)'s action to distribute social assistance in West Jakarta has drawn criticism. Apart from causing crowds that can violate the prokes, there is still a lot of homework for the government related to the social assistance program.

Recently, President Jokowi visited Grogol Terminal, West Jakarta to distribute basic necessities to residents. However, due to the high enthusiasm of the residents, the queue snaked up to cause a crowd. Push-push action was difficult to avoid.

The act of distributing the food items drew criticism. One of them is from Advocate Alghiffari Aqsa. Through his Twitter account, the former director of LBH Jakarta assessed that it was difficult for Indonesia to escape the COVID-19 pandemic because of the president's attitude.

"Whether the minister is under him, it is clear that the problem lies with the President. Then the people accused are difficult to manage," wrote Alghiffari.

Indonesia cannot be separated from the pandemic because of its President. Regardless of who the minister is under, the problem is clearly with the President. Then the people who are accused are difficult to manage. https://t.co/R1GJxHwimu

— Human Rights (@AlghifAqsa) August 12, 2021

Meanwhile, public policy observer Trubus Rahadiansyah assessed that the distribution of presidential social assistance activities in the midst of implementing the PPKM policy was inappropriate. He also said things like this had happened many times.

"It's been like that over and over again. Still imagining it is like a blusukan campaign," Trubus told VOI.

Bad precedent

Trubus said the activity that caused the crowd had a bad impact on the handling of COVID-19. Because so far we have had a hard time enforcing the prokes.

"This is against the PPKM policy. Second, there is a violation of the prokes. Third, this creates jealousy for other people," he said.

In addition, Trubus said this action could set a bad precedent for other regions whose people need the presence of the president. He considered that there should be a fair attitude to other regions so as not to cause social jealousy.

"Being a bad precedent for other regions whose people happen to need the presence of the President. There must be a fair attitude, so that other regions are also the same so there will be no noise," he said.

Trubus also regretted the actions taken by the president. In addition, he also criticized the implementation of the national social assistance program which is still full of problems.

Illustration of social assistance (Source: Antara)

A myriad of social assistance problems

Trisakti University Public Policy Analyst, Trubus Rahadiansyah, outlined several problems that hindered the social assistance program. First, "regarding the cuts in social assistance, many of which do not reach the public. The findings of irregularities such as in Tangerang, Tuban, and others."

Second, about data accuracy. Trubus said it turned out that there were a lot of data on social assistance recipients that didn't match.

"For example, in Klaten, where people who are considered capable by the village head, but it turns out that after the social assistance was dropped they got it again. That's what causes conflict in the community because the people who are entitled to it don't even get it," he explained.

Still a matter of data, in Teluknaga Tangerang the problem is more basic. There are still many residents who have not received social assistance because they do not have an electronic ID card.

As is known, there are still many Indonesian citizens who do not have identity cards. Trubus said that there were four million people who did not have an E-KTP.

You could say Tangerang is an area that is not too far from the capital city. So what happens to the people living in the interior? In fact, this social assistance program must be comprehensive.

Residents of Bogor City receive cash social assistance (BST) from the Ministry of Social Affairs (Photo: ANTARA/Bogor City Government)

"People on the outer islands, where transportation is difficult, haven't (got social assistance) yet. Meanwhile, this social assistance program must touch all of them. Especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone must accept it," said Trubus.

The myriad of problems are only social assistance that comes from the state budget. Meanwhile, the problem of social assistance in regions that use APBD funds is also still a lot of stagnation.

Trubus said there are still many regions that do not want to allocate their budget for social assistance. The reason is they are confused about which budget to reallocate. They also admit to being constrained by bureaucracy.

"Many regions do not want to allocate it for social assistance. Many regional heads are reluctant to make breakthroughs," said Trubus.

Even though Trubus said some budget posts could still be relocated. "Budget posts such as infrastructure can be cut. That can be postponed first. But they are reluctant. The reason is that they have to consult with the DPRD first," he said.

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