Social Assistance Disbursed Late, PKS: Government Waits For Hungry People First

PHOTO DOCUMENTATION ILLUSTRATION/BETWEEN

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX of the DPR from the PKS faction, Netty Prasetiyani Aher criticized the provision of social assistance to the community as compensation for the implementation of Emergency PPKM.

This is because the government's promise to provide social assistance worth Rp. 300,000 per month was only disbursed on the 10th day of the restriction. Whereas according to Netty, the social assistance should be disbursed before the implementation of the Emergency PPKM.

"The social assistance for 10 million participants of the Family Hope Program and Cash Social Assistance has just been disbursed, while the discourse on the extension of the Emergency PPKM has circulated in the community," said Netty, Wednesday, July 14.

Moreover, Netty continued, the discourse on the extension of the Emergency PPKM for the next 6 weeks will affect the mentality of the small people who depend on daily work income.

According to him, the small people would panic and be confused about how to survive in the midst of restrictions. Meanwhile, the promised social assistance was disbursed late and the amount was also inadequate.

"Is the government waiting for the people to starve first?" quipped the chairman of the PKS DPP.

Netty encouraged the government to be swift in fulfilling the social assistance promises. The government does not need to wait for criticism and reprimand from the public to act.

"A few days ago, netizens were busy collecting the government's promise of social assistance on the Instagram account of the Ministry of Social Affairs @kemensosri because they did not know the clarity of the cash social assistance disbursement even though they had asked the local RT/RW," he said.

Netty reminded that social assistance in the midst of Emergency PPKM is very much awaited by the small people. Therefore, the West Java legislator stressed that the government must help prepare the needs of people's daily lives, not just asking to stay at home.

"The amount of social assistance should be sufficient to meet the needs. The amount of Rp. 300 thousand is too small to survive," he said.

Currently, continued Netty, many people are no longer able to do their business, either because of the lack of customers or due to being forced to close their businesses. The people, he said, must also be afraid of the threat of COVID-19.

"But they are forced to leave the house to meet the needs of their families. If the social assistance is provided in sufficient quantities, surely the people will voluntarily want to stay at home. No one wants to be exposed," said Netty.

In addition, Netty asked the government not only to speak outright about sanctions for violators of the Emergency PPKM without providing socialization and education. According to him, the government should support the people with adequate social assistance and create a comfortable and calm public atmosphere.

"I think people will obey and be disciplined. People are also tired of being scared of sanctions," said Netty.