Gov’t Launches Cash Assistance Program for Street Vendors, Small Shop Owners

INDUSTRY.co.id - The Government officially launched Cash Assistance Program for street vendors and small shop owners in North Sumatera capital of Medan.

The assistance is a form of the Government’s support for small business actors amid COVID-19 pandemic and will be given to those whose business locations are in the areas that implement public activity restrictions (PPKM) level 4 and are not recipients of the Productive Presidential Assistance for Micro Businesses (BPUM).

This policy is in accordance with Instructions of Minister of Home Affairs Number 27 and Number 28 of 2021.

“The assistance is expected to rebuild the economy of the people the lower levels affected by the PPKM,” Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said at the distribution of the assistance in Medan.

For the record, the assistance, which is worth Rp1.2 trillion, will be distributed to one million micro business actors.

Data collection and distribution will be carried out by the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) and the distribution is carried out through an application system that applies the principles of transparency and accountability.

“Alhamdulillah, we’ve launched the program in Medan with one million packages worth Rp1.2 million each. The TNI and the Polri will continue the distribution in other regions with the support from the regional police and TNI personnel. This assistance is expected to help those affected by the PPKM for their living expenses and working capital,” Airlangga said.

Medan is the first place to receive the assistance due to the city’s strategic role as the economic epicenter in the island of Sumatra.