Regional Cash Fund Empty, 20 Thousand Heads Of Families At South Sumatra OKU Cancel Receiving Social Assistance

Illustration-(Photo: DOK ANTARA)

SUMSEL - The Social Service of Ogan Komering Ulu Regency (OKU) of South Sumatra (Sumsel) stated that as many as 20 thousand family heads in the district, canceled receiving social assistance (Bansos) in the form of basic necessities due to the local government experiencing a budget deficit.

The local government through the local Social Service was forced to cancel the Social Assistance (Bansos) program for residents affected by COVID-19 which was originally scheduled to be distributed at the end of 2021.

"The plan is for the distribution of aid to be carried out at the end of December 2021. Since the funds in the regional treasury were empty, the program was eventually cancelled," said the Head of Social Empowerment and Handling of the Poor at the OKU Social Service, HM Kholik in Baturaja, Antara, Friday, December 31.

Kholik explained, the program itself is planned to be proposed again in 2022 in the form of the same assistance, namely in the form of basic necessities consisting of rice, wheat flour and sugar worth Rp. 200,000 per family.

Even though it was canceled, he continued, OKU residents affected by COVID-19 need not be discouraged because the central government program, namely the provision of Prosperous Family Cards (KKS) can be realized in December 2021.

"The total number of OKU residents who received social assistance through the KKS Program was 10,600 KPM," he explained.

Residents who receive this KKS get a voucher worth Rp. 200,000 per person which can be exchanged for basic necessities at e-Warung agents in their respective areas," he said.

"KKS recipients can disburse aid funds in the form of basic necessities as needed at the e-Warung that has been appointed by Bank Mandiri by bringing the card," he said.