Government Expects Staple Food Program to Help Reduce Stunting

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

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

The Director General of PFM explained that the way the government reduces stunting through the Basic Food Program is by providing a choice of food that can be purchased by beneficiary families (KPM) according to their needs and provisions by paying attention to nutrition.

"So this is why the government continues to improve the situation, so this program is also 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 the e-Warong, the Director General of PFM explained that KPM was given the freedom to spend the assistance provided according to their needs and conditions so that KPM would be happy.

"This really makes the mother herself manage (spending) so that the mother is happy, so it is 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 are KPM who can buy these items, then sanctions will be given to the e-Warong that sells them.

"Indeed, money is given, but it cannot be received in cash, now what is not allowed, what is strictly prohibited is cigarettes, if the stall is caught violating it, the license will be revoked," explained the Director General of PFM.

The Director General of PFM conveyed that the assistance index in the Basic Food Program has increased from the previous program, namely Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT).

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

"The increase is certain, from IDR110,000 to IDR150,000," said the Director General of PFM.

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

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

On this occasion, the Director General of PFM was accompanied by the Head of Social Affairs of South Sulawesi Province, Head of Social Affairs of Makassar City, Members of DPR Commission VIII, Perum Bulog Representatives, and BRI Representatives. Participants who attended were around 140 KPM accompanied by social companions.

Bureau of Public Relations

Ministry of Social Affairs RI