750 Poor Families In Central Java No Longer Need To Connect Electricity From Neighbors

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - PT PLN (Persero) has distributed electricity through a social and environmental responsibility program by lighting up 750 underprivileged families in five districts in Central Java.

General Manager of PLN Central Java and Yogyakarta Distribution Main Units, Irwansyah Putra, said this assistance is a commitment of PLN and the Central Java Provincial Government (Pemprov) to eradicate extreme poverty in the region.

"We hope that the new connection assistance program and electricity installation can help alleviate poverty," said Irwansyah in a statement quoted in Jakarta, Monday, December 27.

PLN conducts a program of connecting and installing free electricity installations in Central Java with details of 150 plots of land in Pemalang, Brebes and Kebumen Regencies, respectively, 145 plots of land in Banjarnegara Regency, and 155 plots of land in Banyumas Regency.

Irwansyah said that currently many underprivileged residents who do not have access to electricity are still in the status of levering or connecting to electricity from neighbors and close family.

He added that the beneficiaries will be directly integrated to get government subsidies for paying electricity bills every month.

The Company needs the assistance of the Central Java Provincial Government in terms of statistical matching of the Integrated Database for the Social Protection Program.

"This collaboration is needed so that the customers we have provided assistance with can enjoy electricity subsidies from the government for their monthly electricity bills or usage," explained Irwansyah.

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo revealed that there are at least four things that are indicators of poverty, namely latrines, availability of clean water, housing conditions, and lighting or electricity.

"We have received assistance for connecting and installing electricity from PLN and we will try to install this immediately to the community, so that we can complete the handling of poverty in terms of lighting (electricity) needed for poor households," said Ganjar Pranowo.

In alleviating poverty in Central Java, Ganjar explained that his party does not only rely on the state budget (APBN) or regional budget (APBD), but through mutual cooperation and cooperation with several parties including BUMN.

"Thanks to all levels of PLN who have helped, we hope that in the future there will be other assistance that we can coordinate further so that CSR can be more focused," said Ganjar.