Palembang Baznas Gives Cash-Based Food Compensation For 30 COVID-19 Burial Diggers

Briefing on handling COVID-19 bodies (ANTARA)

PALEMBANG - The National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas) together with the Palembang City Government, South Sumatra, have prepared compensation for grave diggers, especially those who have contributed to the burial of bodies infected with COVID-19.

"The gravedigger deserves to be given compensation because he does not know the time from morning to night and is always ready to help bury the bodies infected with COVID-19 using complete personal protective equipment (PPE)," said Chairman of the Palembang Baznas, M. Ridwan Nawawi in Palembang, Antara, Thursday. , September 30.

According to him, to provide this compensation, his party together with the Palembang City Government team have collected data on grave diggers who are usually involved in the funeral process for COVID-19 bodies.

Based on current data, there are 30 gravediggers who usually work at the Gandus cemetery and several other places are deemed worthy of receiving compensation.

The compensation prepared for the gravediggers is in the form of packages of basic necessities (sembako) and cash.

He explained that the provision of compensation was included in the 2021 Baznas Annual Budget Activity Plan (RKAT).

The activity is sought to reach other gravediggers who are more in accordance with the zakat funds that can be collected from the community, said Ridwan.

Regional Secretary of Palembang City Ratu Dewa said that with the attention of the government and Baznas through the compensation, it was hoped that the gravediggers would be more enthusiastic about working.

"To provide more compensation and a wider reach, his party invites all ASN and the people of Bumi Sriwijaya to distribute their zakat, infaq and alms at the official Baznas institution," said the Secretary of State.