Mendes PDTT: Use Of Village Funds Adjusted To The Number Of Poor People

Abdul Halim Iskandar/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Minister of Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (Mendes PDTT) Abdul Halim Iskandar stated that the use of the 40 percent allocation of the Village Fund for direct cash assistance (BLT) is adjusted to the number of poor people in the village, not absolutely everything must be used for the safety net program. "Instead of dealing with legal cases later, it is better for the poor people in the village to distribute it. If there is 10 percent or 15 percent distribute that much," he said during a working visit in Kudus, Sunday, February 13. Villages don't have to worry because God willing, the money won't be lost. Even though the (allocation) has been set at 40 percent, if the real (needs) in the village are 15 percent, then 15 percent will be used," he added. all poor people in the village are entitled to it.

Meanwhile, the Regent of Kudus Hartopo stated that he had not received detailed information regarding the provisions for the use of the remaining funds if only half of the 40 percent allocation of the Village Fund could be used for BLT. ?" According to Presidential Regulation Number 104 of 2021 concerning Details of the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget for Fiscal Year 2022, the use of the Village Fund per regency/city is determined for social protection programs in the form of direct village cash assistance of at least 40 percent), food security programs of at least 20 percent , and funding support for handling COVID-19 at least eight percent of the Village Fund allocation for each village, and for other priority sector programs.