Minister Of Social Affairs Risma Distributes Phase II Cash Social Assistance Of IDR 6.5 Trillion To 9 Million Families

Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini. (Photo: Surabaya City Government)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) said that it had distributed cash social assistance for the Phase II Family Hope Program (PKH) amounting to IDR 6.53 trillion at the beginning of Ramadan 2021.

Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Tri Rismaharini said the value was distributed to 9,074,584 PKH Beneficiary Families (KPM) throughout Indonesia.

"We allocate the disbursement of aid for Phase II in April, so it coincides with the beginning of the fast," he said as quoted from the Ministry of Social Affairs website, Tuesday, April 20.

For information, the government has allocated a 2021 PKH social assistance budget of IDR 28.71 trillion. Meanwhile, the total distribution in two stages has reached IDR 15.35 trillion, which was given in January amounting to IDR 6.82 trillion and April IDR 6.53 trillion.

"PKH is expected to reduce the burden on KPM expenses during the fasting month, because usually household needs increase during the month of Ramadan compared to normal days," he said.

Risma added that the disbursement of PKH social assistance is also expected to help accelerate economic recovery due to the pandemic by increasing people's purchasing power.

"PKH is a conditional assistance for families that fulfill one or more components, namely the health component with the category of pregnant women and children under five," he added.

In the process of distributing funds in the field, the Ministry of Social Affairs collaborates with the State Bank Association (Himbara) in disbursement, so that all PKH KPMs get direct assistance to their respective accounts.

"Recipients of aid can disburse aid received at joint ATMs, E-Warong, and bank agents appointed by the channeling bank," concluded Minister of Social Affairs Risma.