Coordinating Minister Airlangga: Cash Assistance For Street Vendors And Stalls In NTB Is Fastest And Right On Target

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto. (Photo: Doc. Coordinating Ministry for the Economy)

JAKARTA - The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy is felt by almost all levels of society, especially after the implementation of the PPKM which limits community mobility and activities. Especially for micro and small business actors (UMK) whose turnover has decreased drastically since the PPKM.

The government responded to this condition by initiating the Cash Assistance Program for Street Vendors and Stalls (BT-PKLW) which is included in the Social Protection Cluster (Perlinsos) in the National Economic Recovery Program (PEN). This program is to complement the Government's programs that have been running so far, such as Micro Business Productive Assistance (BPUM), KUR Interest Subsidy, MSME Working Capital Loan Guarantee, Government-borne MSME Final Income Tax, and MSME Loan Restructuring.

This program is in the form of distributing cash assistance to street vendors (PKL) and shop owners (PW) through TNI and Polri personnel. It is hoped that this assistance will be able to help them get back on their feet after being affected by PPKM for a long time.

President Joko Widodo has also officially launched the BTPKL-W Program in Yogyakarta on October 9, 2021, accompanied by the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and the Governor of DI Yogyakarta Sri Sultan Hamengkubowono X.

Continuing the activity in Yogyakarta, today, Thursday, October 14, Coordinating Minister Airlangga distributed BT-PKLW assistance to several PKL and PW representatives in Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province. The activity, which was held at Sangkareang Park, was attended by around 70 street vendors/PWs who had been recorded by the Mataram Police and Kodim 1606/Mataram.

"As of today, the amount of aid that has been distributed throughout Indonesia is around 240 thousand or 24 percent of the total distribution target. The mechanism so far is that Polri and TNI officers will go directly to record and verify PKL and PW who are entitled to receive BT-PKLW assistance The prospective recipients who have been registered and verified will receive an invitation to collect assistance at the local Police Office or Kodim," explained Coordinating Minister Airlangga.

Coordinating Minister Airlangga also witnessed a simulation of BT-PKLW data collection by TNI/Polri personnel and symbolically distributed it directly to 5 recipient representatives. Coordinating Minister Airlangga then went around greeting street vendors and PWs whose trading sites were located around the park, and ended by having a dialogue with some of them. He asked what kind of business they were in, and what needs they would help meet with the assistance.

"I appreciate and hope that the distribution of BT-PKLW assistance, especially in the NTB Province, can run smoothly and can really help PKL and PW to maintain their businesses affected by the implementation of PPKM. Here 100 percent has been distributed and is the best in Indonesia This activity has been checked by the President, very quickly, and right on target," said Coordinating Minister Airlangga.

For information, the target recipients until the end of 2021 are 1 million street vendors and PWs channeled through the TNI (500 thousand) and the Police (500 thousand). The amount of benefits obtained is IDR 1.2 million which is paid once for each street vendor and stall owner.

The criteria for PKL and Stall Owners who can get it are those who are not included in the List of Beneficiaries/Prospective BPUM Recipients. The location of the business must also be in a Regency/City that implements PPKM based on Inmendagri No. 27 and 28 of 2021. Also, fulfill the specified requirements, namely Indonesian citizens, having e-KTP and not being ASN, members of the TNI/Polri, employees of BUMN/BUMD.