The Ministry Of Social Affairs Guarantees That Social Assistance Will Not Be Rided By Political Campaigns

Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini explained the distribution of social assistance during a press conference in Jakarta, Monday (4/12/2023). (ANTARA/Bayu Pratama S)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) guarantees that the distribution of social assistance (bansos) to people throughout Indonesia will not be used for political purposes during the current campaign.

Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Tri Rismaharini said the social assistance provided starting from cash social assistance (BST), non-cash food assistance (BPNT), and the Family Hope Program (PKH) distributed were not in the form of goods, thereby minimizing the occurrence of political practices during elections.

"Whether there is an election or not, it will not affect or be used for political purposes because social assistance is in the form of money channeled through Bank or PT Pos Indonesia," Risma said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, December 4.

He said the Ministry of Social Affairs already has data on recipients who are entitled to social assistance proposed by each region.

"It's been thoroughly examined, those who escaped get social assistance. We have data up to the state of the picture of the house," he added.

According to Risma, according to Law Number 11 of 2011 concerning Handling the Poor who have the right to propose that the recipients of social assistance are local governments.

"In the past, it was three months when the local government suggested it would be verified but now it is only one month, if the local government does not follow up, the proposed one will still be approved," he said.

In addition, Risma said that her party was working with the State Civil Service Agency (BKN) and BPJS Ketenagakerjaan to check the data on the beneficiary communities.

This aims to ensure that in one family member does not receive a salary according to the City Minimum Wage (UMK) or the recipient has the status of an ASN.

"If it is found that the recipient gets a salary equivalent to the UMK or works as an ASN, he cannot receive social assistance," he said.

The Ministry of Social Affairs until early November 2023, has distributed non-cash food assistance (BPNT)/Sembako and Family Hope Program (PKH) to Beneficiary Families (KPM). The realization of the two programs touched 98 percent.

In the BPNT/sembako program, it was recorded that local success reached 99.23 percent of the target of IDR 45.12 trillion with 98.08 percent of transactions. Meanwhile, PKH was recorded as 98.20 percent of the target of IDR 28.70 trillion and 97.30 percent of transactions.