Mr. Eri Cahyadi Help, There's A Sad Story Surabaya Residents Pawn PKH Cards Worth IDR. 500 Thousand For Life

PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

SURABAYA - A housewife named Vita, a resident of Pogot Baru Gang Karya Bakti Number 64, Surabaya, East Java, was forced to pawn her Family Hope Program (PKH) Card to support herself and her family.

"What I pawned is a PKH ATM card to collect aid. I pledged IDR 500 thousand to someone, I will redeem it to IDR 550 thousand", said the 33-year-old mother when she was visited by Deputy Chairperson of Surabaya Regional House of Representatives Commission B, Anas Karno at her home, quoted by Antara, Monday, 26 July.

Vita said it had to be done because her husband, who usually sells pentols at Wachid Hasyim School, has not been able to sell since PPKM (Restrictions on Community Activities).

"So far, the Wachid Hasyim school where my husband lives is closed because the school is online. So, my husband's income has decreased considerably," he said.

Vita added that to survive with her husband and four children, she was forced to pawn the PKH Card to someone secretly. The PKH card has been pawned since June 21, 2021.

"The maturity date is a month after that. Until now I have not been able to redeem it. So I can't take aid from the government, such as rice aid some time ago," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairperson of Surabaya Regional House of Representatives, Anas Karno, when visiting and assisting the residents expressed his concern.

"I received a WhatsApp message from this resident and was concerned about his condition in the midst of a pandemic. Just to eat, I had to pawn the PKH card", he said.

The PDIP Surabaya politician hopes that the city government will provide more intervention support to families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during the PPKM period.

"They are in really difficult condition now", he said.

He also hoped that all parties would help each other to ease the burden of the affected residents. "Hopefully this pandemic will end soon so that people's lives return to normal. They are no longer in a state of economic difficulty", he said.