Social Minister Invites PSKS to Fight COVID-19

JAKARTA (May 1, 2020) - Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara provided a briefing on the important role of the Potential and Source of Social Welfare (PSKS) in breaking the chain of COVID-19 distribution. This is a step by the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) to coordinate PSKS in an effort to prevent and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in Indonesia, one of which is by actively overseeing the distribution of social assistance so that it is right on target.

"I often see complaints in social media and other media about social assistance that are not on target. For this reason, it is necessary to involve PSKS to socialize and educate the public regarding social assistance, both regular and special social assistance in handling COVID-19," said Juliari.

The intended PSKS consists of Community Social Workers (PSM), Sub-District Social Welfare Workers (TKSK), Youth Organization (Karang Taruna), Social Organizations / Social Welfare Institutions (LKS), Facilitator of Indigenous Communities (KAT), CSR Social Welfare, and the Business World.

Since mid-April 2020, the MoSA has distributed social assistance to disadvantaged and vulnerable people affected by COVID-19. Social assistance includes Social Supplies for Jabodetabek residents and Cash Social Assistance (BST) for residents outside Jabodetabek that are sent directly to the residents' addresses.

According to Juliari, the distribution of social assistance is expected to not only be on target, but also fast, responsive and integrated. In addition, services to the community must be oriented to the ease and speed of handling, without ignoring the rules and regulations that have been set.

Therefore, the support and role of PSKS in helping the government to provide information, communication, socialization, and handling public complaints is very much needed.

"Not only that. Handling complaints about social assistance must also be assisted by social pillar in the area, because we can get accurate data from that. In difficult times like this what we need is how we unite, how we increase solidarity, how to help others, and don't look for other people's mistakes, "said Juliari.

Regarding the COVID-19 social assistance complaint, Social Minister explained that there are several service channels that can be used by the Social Pillars. First is the Integrated Referral Service System (SLRT) in the District/City and the Social Welfare Center (Puskesos) at the village/urban village level. Currently the SLRT / Puskesos has been designated as one of the official complaint services for government social assistance.

"The second channel is through the Ministry of Social’s official service center, with an email address and WhatsApp contact number that we have shared with the public."

Third Channel, tiered handling means that community complaints that are directly submitted to Youth Organization and Community Participation can be forwarded to the village / urban village apparatus to be resolved or referred to a higher level and so on.

Meanwhile, Director General of Social Empowerment Edi Suharto explained that PSKS throughout Indonesia had taken concrete action to assist the government in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Ranging from socialization, education, disinfectant spraying, mask distribution, provision of food needs, fundraising to the implementation of mentoring activities and the delivery of social assistance.

"PSKS synergized with the Regional Government and partners in their region to serve the community, now they also help in handling social assistance complaints," explained Edi.

According to him, in the social assistance service, the Social Pillar and KAT local assistants must always coordinate with the regional government starting from the village / urban village to the provincial level.

"No less important in the current situation is the role of CSR, where companies as part of the community have a social responsibility to provide welfare to the community. Support from LKS or Social Organizations throughout Indonesia to help communities affected by COVID-19 is also needed," said Edi.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs