MAKASSAR (February 9, 2020) - The Director General of Poverty Handling (Dirjen PFM), Andi ZA Dulung hopes that the Staple Food Program can help reduce stunting problems in Indonesia.

"This (Staple Food Program) actually has something to do with stunting, there is a government program now that we want to reduce the stunting," said the Director General of PFM at the Launching and Dissemination of the 2020 Basic Food Program Distribution event "at e-Warong Maraja, in Makassar City.

Delivered by the Director General of PFM, the way the government reduces stunting through the Staple Food Program is by providing food choices that can be purchased by the beneficiaries families (KPM) according to their needs and nutrition.

"So this is indeed that the government continues to improve the situation, so this program was added to the stunting prevention program with various nutritional combinations," said the Director General of PFM to the participants who were KPM.

During the visit to e-Warong, the Director General of PFM explained that KPM was given the freedom to spend the assistance according to the needs and conditions so that KPM would be happy.

"This really makes the mother could manage (spending) so the mother is happy, we designed in such a way," said the Director General of PFM.

However, the Director General of PFM prohibits KPM from buying items that are not allowed, for example cigarettes. If it is known that there is a KPM buy the item, the sanctions will be given to the e-Warong who sold it.

"It is true that cash is given, but cash cannot be received, now what is not allowed, what is strictly prohibited is cigarettes. If the shop is caught violating it, the permit will be revoked," explained the Director General of PFM.

Delivered by the Director General of PFM, the aid index in the Basic Food Program has increased from the previous program, namely Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT).

Previously, KPM was given assistance of IDR 110,000 / month / KPM but by switching to the Basic Food Program, KPM was given assistance of IDR 150,000 / month / KPM.

"The increase is certain, from IDR 110,000 to IDR.150,000," said the Director General of PFM.

In addition, the Director General of PFM advised that KPMs who have businesses can be encouraged to further increase their business by providing additional capital. With this assistance, we hoped that KPM will no longer need to receive assistance and become independent.

"Ladies and gentlemen who already have businesses, now the Minister and the President want them to be encouraged to be given additional capital to be able for increase their business and no longer need to receive assistance, later we will see how they develop so they can make more efforts and become independent quickly. "said the Director General of PFM.

On this occasion, the Director General of PFM was accompanied by the Head of Social Affairs for the Province of South Sulawesi, the Head of Social Affairs for Makassar City, Members of the House of Representatives Commission VIII, Representatives of Perum Bulog, and Representatives of Bank Rakyat Indonesia. Participants who attended were around 140 KPMs, accompanied by social facilitators.