Ministry of Social Affairs Distributed Life Insurance for Central Sulawesi Disaster Victims

SIGI (July 1, 2019) - The Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs distributed life insurance assistance for victims of the earthquake, liquefaction and tsunami disasters in Central Sulawesi, specifically for Sigi Regency with a total value of Rp. 9.1 Billion.

The aid was provided to 4,177 households or 15,191 people in Sigi Rp. 9,144,600,000. Meanwhile, the completing data of life insurance stimulant assistance for Palu City and Donggala Regency was still in progress. Social Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita advised that the provided life insurance could meet the basic needs of disaster victims for their survival.

"I also expect that this assistance can restore the psychological social condition of disaster victims so that they can carry out their social roles and functions appropriately," said the Minister of Social Affairs in Jakarta, Monday (01/07/2019).

Present at the inauguration of permanent residential activities for earthquake, liquefaction and tsunami survivors in Palu City, Central Sulawesi with the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Human Rights, Minister of Social Affairs represented by the Director General of Social Protection and Security, Harry Hikmat outlined the steps carried out by Ministry of Social Affairs in handling disasters in Central Sulawesi.

"The Ministry of Social Affairs is coordinating with the National Disaster Management Agency for a life insurance stimulant assistance fund with an estimated need for 72,000 people with an index of Rp600,000/person. So the total need is IDR 43.2 billion, "said Harry in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Monday (01/07/2019).

Furthermore, the Ministry of Social Affairs had verified and validated data on prospective beneficiaries of life insurance stimulants totaling 72,823 people based on the proposal for assistance from the Social Service of Central Sulawesi Province. This process involved related elements such as provincial/district/city social services, occupation and civil registration services, village supervisory non-commissioned officers (Babinsa), police officers assigned to villages as advisors on security and public order (Babinkantibmas) and Youth Disaster Preparedness (TAGANA) volunteers.

Apart from life guarantees, the Ministry of Social Affairs also distributed first-stage heirs in Palu, Sigi, Donggala, and Parigi Montong on May 10. Harry stated, the transfer of compensation for heirs and life insurance stimulant assistance, originated from a proposal from the local government.

"We from the head office are in position of accepting proposals from the region. Data from the region has to be verified. Well, later at the bank, will be re-verified before disbursement, "he said.

He emphasized that the central government was essentially prepared, as long as the proposals from the regions could be accepted and the validity of the data could be met. Therefore, the role of the region itself was crucial. If agencies in the regions such as regional governments, the Department of Population and Civil Registration, the Association of State Banks (Himbara), and the community, could work together to deliver valid data, assistance could be quickly disbursed.

"So we can work fast from head office. The proof is that aid for Sigi has been disbursed. The budget is ready in the holding account in Himbara, "said Harry.

On Sunday (30/06/2019), the Ministry of Social Affairs symbolically handed over life insurance assistance to the victims. Aid was delivered directly by the Director of Social Rehabilitation for Victims of Natural Disasters Margowiyono in Kotapulu Field, Sigi Regency,

"We handed over IDR 9.1 billion life insurance assistance to residents of Sigi Regency, which was allocated to 4,177 households, 15,191 people. We can immediately distribute it to those in needs, "said Margowiyono, when delivering symbolic life insurance assistance to the Regional Secretary of Sigi Muh Basir Lainga Regency.

A resident named Mustafa from Lolu Village, Biromaru Subdistrict, Sigi Regency, felt greatly helped because this disbursement of life insurance coincided with his son’s school promotion.

"I convey my gratefulness to the Minister of Social Affairs for the help so that I could send my child to school, I work odd jobs so I am very grateful that I got this assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs," Mustafa said.

Head of Public Relations Bureau Ministry of Social Affairs RI

Sonny W. Manalu