Ministry of Social Affairs Distributes Cash Social Assistance to 28,572 KPM in Tangerang Regency

JAKARTA (April 22nd 2020) - The Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) distributed the first phase of Social Assistance (Bansos) to 28,572 Beneficiary Families (KPM) in Tangerang Regency, Banten, Wednesday (22/4). The amount of cash social assistance provided is IDR 600,000 per month per KPM for three months.

Director of Poverty Handling (PFM) Region II, I Wayan Wirawan, said that the total number of cash assistance recipients in Tangerang Regency was 102,757 KPM. "The 28,572 families given social assistance today are the first verified phase and will continue until it's finished," he said.

The cash assistance recipients, according to the Director of PFM Region II, are families affected by Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Among the impacts of COVID-19 is that there are family members who have lost their jobs, income, or businesses.

The Director of PFM Region II explained that the Cash Social Assistance as a manifestation of the Ministry of Social Affairs is present for the people. To the PT Pos staff who delivered Cash Social Assistance to each recipient, the Director of PFM Region II asked that the task be carried out properly. "Cash Social Assistance must really be conveyed to people who really get assistance. Unless the recipient dies," he said.

Meanwhile, Siti Alawiyah, one of the KPM admitted that she was both happy and surprised when she received the assistance. Siti works daily as an honorary teacher at a Religious Teacher Education School (PGA) in Serang. Every month, she only received an honorarium of IDR 500,000. In fact, she is a widow with two children. "I am greatly helped by this assistance. It can be used to buy more basic food," she said.

Amsiah also conveyed a similar feeling. "I was shocked. I didn't know what to say," she said. Amsiah is a housewife but yet a widow now. All this time, her three children have supported her daily life. However, two of his three children have just been laid off due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Siti and Amsiah both would like to grateful for President Joko Widodo, Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara, and Regent of Tangerang Ahmed Zaki Iskandar for this assistance.