Social Minister Risma Reveals Rp2.7 Trillion Of Social Assistance Funds Retained In Himbara Bank

Social Minister Tri Rismaharini (DOK Ministry of Social Affairs)

JAKARTA - Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini revealed that a budget of Rp2,787,926,053,983 which is a social assistance fund (bansos), is still being held in banks that are members of the Association of State-Owned Banks (Himbara).

In a working meeting with Commission VIII DPR in Jakarta, Social Minister Risma explained that the funds were the remainder of the Ministry of Social's 2021 budget realization.

The Minister of Social Affairs stated that he had communicated with the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) that the social assistance card was already at the Himbara bank, but had not yet been handed over to the beneficiary.

"We know that the cards are already in the bank, but they haven't been handed over to the recipient," he said, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, January 19.

He said that 99 percent of the Rp2.7 trillion budget was used for social assistance.

Risma invited members of the DPR to go directly to the electoral district to distribute social assistance that was still being held back.

The distribution of social assistance, he said, was still not 100 percent. For example, in Bali it was only 84 percent, then in Central Java it was still below 90 percent.

Not to mention the findings in Papua, where many social assistance cards have not been distributed by the Himbara bank to beneficiaries.

"If the ladies and gentlemen are willing, we will go down together to solve this so that it can be realized. So maybe in February we can reach almost 100 percent," he said.

Social Minister Risma said that in distributing social assistance, the Ministry of Social Affairs is ready to assist with data so that it can be seen how many have not been distributed, and how many cards have not been distributed.

In addition, the Minister of Social Affairs explained that from the 2021 budget worth Rp. 109,093,375,832,000, Rp. 105,305,449,778,017 has been realized.

The realization achievement was 97.42 percent, higher than other ministries.