Ensure Readiness of Social Assistance Channels during Emergency PPKM, Minister of Social Affairs Strengthens Cross-Agency Coordination and Involves Digital Technology Support
Writer :
Koesworo Setiawan
Translator :
Karlina Irsalyana
JAKARTA (July 8, 2021) – Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini
directly leads the process of updating the Integrated Social Welfare Data
(DTKS) which is carried out regularly. Updating data is a continuous and
dynamic process because there are residents who change addresses, die, or maybe
their welfare levels change.
Mrs. Risma ensures that she will continue to
strengthen the validity and accuracy of poverty data so that it will further
improve the accuracy of targets in the distribution of assistance. In the
process of updating the data, the Minister of Social Affairs directly leads coordination
meetings involving various parties, such as the National Police, the Corruption
Eradication Commission (KPK), the Attorney General's Office, Bank Indonesia,
the Financial Services Authority (OJK), the Association of State-Owned Banks
(Himbara), etc.
With
cross-agency coordination meetings, ensuring the data updating process runs in
a transparent and participatory manner. In addition, strengthening of data
accuracy is also carried out with the support of digital technology, so that
apart from being more accurate, it is also expected to be faster.
"With electronic (device support) in the
future, it can be even faster. Just click it," said the Social Minister in
Jakarta, Wednesday (7/7). In addition to being faster and more accurate, the
use of digital devices also increases control over the use of the budget.
“With the help of electronics, we can monitor maps and a person's behavior.
Therefore, surveillance efforts are also carried out electronically," she
said.
With these various policies, the Minister of
Social Affairs ensures the readiness of MoSA in supporting government policies
in anticipating the implementation of the Emergency Community Activity
Restrictions (PPKM).
MoSA together with some other agencies
is in the social protection cluster by providing social assistance for
affected communities. The Minister of Social Affairs confirmed that the data on
the recipients of the social assistance had been ready since last week.
To increase people's purchasing power during
Emergency PPKM, there are three types of social assistance, namely the Family
Hope Program (PKH), Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) / Basic Food Cards, and Cash
Social Assistance (BST).
In line with President Joko Widodo's directives,
the disbursement of PKH which reaches 10 million Beneficiary Families (KPM) has
been moved forward to the third quarter of July. BPNT/Sembako Cards from the
beginning reached 15.93 million KPM, increased its reach to 18.8 million KPM
with an index of IDR 200 thousand/KPM/month.
Then for BST which reaches 10 million KPM, it is
distributed for two months namely May and June, and is paid at once in two
months in July. BST index of IDR 300 thousand/KPM/month. KPM BST is communities
affected by the pandemic that has been included in DTKS, who do not receive PKH
and BPNT/Sembako Cards.
The government allocated IDR 13.96 trillion for
10 million KPM PKH recipients; IDR 45.12 trillion for 18.8 million recipients
of KPM BPNT/Sembako Cards and IDR 6.1 trillion for 10 million recipients of KPM
BST.
Citing Minister of Social Affairs Decree No.
161/HUK/2020 on the Implementation of Cash Social Assistance in Handling the
Impact of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 Pandemic in 2021, the data for BST
recipients is a recommendation from the district/city government, and other data sources (namely from the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation,
ministries/institutions, social welfare institutions, community organizations
with legal entities).
PKH and BPNT/Sembako Cards are regular social
assistance programs to reduce poverty. The distribution of PKH and
BPNT assistance/Sembako Cards is carried out non-cash through Himbara network.
The BST is special social assistance channeled through PT Pos Indonesia
office network.
Another latest policy of MoSA is to distribute
rice assistance to KPM PKH and BST in the amount of 10 Kg/KPM. The distribution
of assistance is carried out through Perum Bulog network which is spread
throughout the country. With the help of rice, it is hoped that the poor people
affected by the pandemic will have their basic needs fulfilled.
MoSA has also distributed various other
assistance, including cooked eggs to meet the nutritional needs of the
community, health workers, and volunteers, so that they are expected to increase
their immune system.