Was Crowded, Sri Mulyani Explained Details Of The Social Security Budget

Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani (Photo: Antara)

Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati opened her voice about the hectic public discussion regarding the social protection budget (Perlinsos) because its value is very large, but it is not in line with the social assistance budget (bansos) managed by the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) which is much smaller in value.

Sri Mulyani said the 2024 social welfare budget was IDR 496.8 trillion. The social welfare budget is managed and distributed by Ministries/Institutions (K/L) and non-K/L.

"I want to convey the realization of social protection and this is what often appears, especially on social media, seems to be a discussion. As we conveyed when we conveyed the 2024 State Budget, this year's social welfare budget reached Rp496.8 trillion, not social assistance, yes, social protection," Sri Mulyani explained at a press conference at the KITA State Budget, Jakarta, Monday, March 25, 2024.

Of the total social welfare budget, Sri Mulyani said, as much as Rp75.6 trillion was allocated to the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) to be used for basic food card programs, the Family Hope Program (PKH), and social rehabilitation assistance.

"Yesterday I also heard that the Ministry of Social Affairs in the DPR said that the Ministry of Social Affairs was only responsible for Rp75.6 trillion, indeed for the basic food card program, PKH, social rehabilitation assistance, especially for the elderly and others," he said.

Sri Mulyani said that the total social welfare budget was also managed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbud Ristek) and the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) as much as Rp. 30 trillion. These allocations are used, among others, to run the Indonesia Smart Program (PIP) and the Smart Indonesia Card Program (KIP).

Then, as much as Rp49 trillion is also managed by the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) for the National Health Insurance Contribution Assistance Recipient Program (PBI JKN), or distributed to the poor who are unable to pay BPJS Kesehatan.

Next, it is also distributed directly to the village community or for Village Direct Cash Assistance (BLT) amounting to Rp10.7 trillion.

Sri Mulyani said, as much as Rp330 trillion was managed by non-K/L, among which it was used to distribute energy subsidies, including fuel, 3 kg LPG, and electricity.

Meanwhile, non-energy subsidies include fertilizer subsidies, Public Service Obligation (PSO) subsidies, public transportation subsidies, People's Business Credit (KUR) interest subsidies, and housing credit subsidies. Then also used to anticipate disaster management.

"So for the public, maybe many people ask for Rp496.8 trillion (social budget), Rp 75.6 trillion, indeed the Ministry of Social Affairs is doing it while the rest are in several ministries of institutions and subsidies that are quite large in the form of electricity goods, LPG, fuel fertilizers and business loans, and housing loans," he explained.