Through Sahabat Card, Mr. Abu Gives Cash Assistance Of Rp200,000 For Kediri Residents Affected By COVID-19

Kediri Mayor Abdullah Abu Bakar witnesses distribution of cash assistance to residents (PHOTO VIA ANTARA)

KEDIRI - Kediri City Government, East Java, distributed cash in a "Sahabat Card" which is given to residents affected by COVID-19 amounting to Rp200 thousand.

"The municipal government distributed funds from the 'Sahabat Card'. This assistance is given to poor people who are affected by COVID-19," said Kediri Mayor Abdullah Abu Bakar in Kediri, as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, May 4.

Assistance for underprivileged residents affected by COVID-19 is provided in urban villages. Residents receive an allocation of Rp. 200 thousand for the first phase.

The mayor also directly observed the provision of aid funds through the Sahabat Card in Burengan Village, Kediri City. In this sub-district, residents queuing to get the aid are Burengan and Banaran sub-districts, Pesantren sub-district, Kediri City.

Mr. Abu, his nickname, also had a dialogue with the residents. He even asked that the process of providing assistance be accelerated and residents still adhere to health protocols. This was done because until now it is still a COVID-19 pandemic.

"So, residents huddled together. But I have coordinated with the social service, later it will be made easier for SPJ (accountability letter) with one signature. If online, many cards are lost and we see the most effective ones are distributed quickly," he said.

Head of Kediri City Social Service, Triyono Kutut Purwanto, said that the Sahabat Card was distributed for four days, from Tuesday-Friday (4-7/5). There are 25,628 beneficiary families (KPM) who received this assistance in the first phase of 2021.

"There are 25,628 KPM and this distribution is in the first stage. Per person gets Rp200 thousand," said Triyono.

According to him, every time the disbursement was made, there were residents who did not come to pick up. Several things triggered it, such as those concerned were still outside the city and could not go home and even died.

"Usually there are 10 percent of the disbursement per stage who do not take it. Our hope is that this can be completed," he said.

Suparti, a resident of Burengan Urban Village, Pesantren Subdistrict, Kediri City, admitted that she was grateful for this social assistance. This money can be used for needs ahead of Eid Al-Fitr 2021.

"Alhamdulillah, this can be used for shopping, let alone approaching Eid," said Suparti.