Airlangga Says El Nino's Social Assistance In Indonesia Is Lower Than India To Singapore

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto. (Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI)

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that social assistance programs were also implemented by other countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, India, the Philippines and the United States due to the impact of El Nino.

Airlangga emphasized that since December 2023, various countries have experienced food disruptions due to the impact of El Nino, including Indonesia, resulting in disruptions to planting and delaying the harvest schedule.

"This makes food supply experiencing disruption which is certainly very disturbing and has a significant impact on the poor. Therefore, several countries carry out social assistance," he said during a hearing on the dispute over the General Election Results Dispute (PHPU) or the 2024 Presidential Election, Friday, April 5, 2024.

Airlangga gave an example, the Malaysian state provided social assistance for 8.7 million recipients of families or 25.4 percent of the total population with a budget equivalent to IDR 25 trillion for the period January to September 2023.

"Then, the Philippines provided cash assistance to 2.3 million farmers due to El Nino in line with Rp3.47 trillion in September 2023, food assistance in India 800 million people or Rp372 trillion and fertilizer subsidies of 25.5 billion in November 2023 and January 2024," he explained.

Airlangga said other countries, such as Singapore, provide live support packages for almost half the population, 2.5 million people starting in September 2023.

Meanwhile, the United States provides food stamps for 41 million people with inflation aid packages of 17 million people and also protection from the impact of extreme climate change with an equivalent value of IDR 835 trillion.

According to Airlangga, social assistance carried out in Indonesia is lower than Malaysia (25 percent), Singapore (41 percent), India (55.6), and America (12.1 percent).

Because the social assistance provided by Indonesia through food assistance is only 22 million people or 7.9 percent of the population.

Airlangga conveyed that the implementation of social welfare includes government programs consisting of regular social assistance, other social assistance and certain conditions that include regular PKH.