Gov’t to Speed Up Social Aid Distribution During Emergency PPKM

INDUSTRY.co.id - In a bid to suppress the COVID-19 transmission, the Government has announced it will implement Emergency Public Activity Restrictions (PPKM Darurat) to take effect from 3 to 20 July 2021, coupled with the acceleration and expansion of social assistance.

According to Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, his office has coordinated with a number of relevant ministries/institutions to accelerate and ensure that the distribution of social assistance is well-targeted.

The Family Hope Program is expected to reach 10 million beneficiary families, the Staple Food Program for 18.8 million families, and the Cash Social Assistance (BST) will be extended from May until June for 10 million families, he added.

“The measure aims to synchronize so that social assistance can be distributed as quickly as possible and its coverage will be right on target. Most importantly, the assistance is expected to help those most affected at the grassroot level,” he said, as quoted from the website of Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, Friday (2/7).

He went on to say that the accelerated distribution of social assistance is part of the Government’s effort to lower poverty rate to under double digits just as before the pandemic.

“Hopefully, no later than the second week of July, the social assistance will be distributed throughout the country to beneficiary families in need,” Muhadjir said.

Regarding the distribution of Direct Cash Assistance (BLT) sourced from the Village Fund, the Minister urged that the assistance be immediately disbursed to 5 million families in accordance with the data. The Minister also urged to carry out a review on the use of the Village Fund so that the assistance can reach 8 million families and those affected residents can receive the assistance immediately.

In the meantime, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani asserted that the budgeting for the provision of Cash Social Assistance has been carried out accordingly and asked Minister of Social Affairs to submit a proposal for the assistance allocation extension budget for May-June 2021.

“I ask for the proposal to be sent immediately so the assistance can be distributed in July all at once for two-month assistance allocation. This will certainly be very helpful,” Sri said.