Regional People's Representative Council Are Strict, Jakarta Provincial Government Finally "Gives Up" on Jakarta Widows Card Proposal

The meeting of Commission E of the DKI DPRD with the DKI Provincial Government discussed the proposal of the DKI DPRD regarding the manufacture of widow cards for Jakarta residents, Friday, August 8. (Diah-VOI)

JAKARTA - The Head of the Jakarta Social Services Agency, Iqbal Akbarudin, stated that the Jakarta Provincial Government will follow up on the Jakarta Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD)'s proposal to create widow cards for Jakarta residents.

This was revealed during a meeting of Commission E of the Jakarta DPRD. The DPRD has repeatedly questioned the Jakarta Provincial Government over the lack of response to the proposal.

Iqbal then stated that the Jakarta Provincial Government will inventory data on residents who could potentially be targeted for widow card assistance.

"Currently, the Assistant (for Public Welfare at the Jakarta Regional Secretariat) is compiling all the available data. Perhaps once it has been reviewed, it will be submitted to the Governor," Iqbal said at the Jakarta DPRD building on Friday, August 8.

Iqbal admitted that in formulating the widow card policy, the Social Services Agency needs to coordinate with other regional government agencies (OPDs).

"Indeed, the involvement of other OPDs in this matter is not limited to the Social Services Agency," Iqbal said.

Previously, the Gerindra Party faction of the Jakarta Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) proposed that the Jakarta Provincial Government issue a social assistance program for widows whose husbands have left them.

This was conveyed by Jamilah Abdul Gani, Deputy Treasurer of the Gerindra faction of the Jakarta DPRD, during a plenary meeting of the faction's general views on the Draft Regional Regulation concerning Amendments to the 2025 Regional Budget.

"The Gerindra faction asks the Jakarta Provincial Government to consider issuing the Jakarta Widow Card (KJJ) program," said Jamilah at the Jakarta DPRD building in Central Jakarta on Monday, July 21.

However, not all widows are proposed to receive the card. If the Jakarta Provincial Government approves, the recipients of the assistance will be widowed women aged 45 and above.

Responding separately, Pramono Anung considered the proposal strange. "It's just strange. I don't want to answer," Pramono said at Jakarta City Hall on Wednesday, July 23.