Ministry of Social Affairs Handles the Impact of COVID-19 for Vulnerable Groups

JAKARTA (April 7th 2020) - The Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs held a leadership meeting with Commission VIII of the Indonesian Parliament to explain the social impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Indonesia. At this meeting, the Ministry of Social Affairs' strategic efforts that have been made to those that will be carried out in handling COVID-19 were also discussed.

The Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari P. Batubara said that the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 is expected to reduce economic growth to 2.3% in the tough scenario and continue to -0.4% in the very severe scenario. In addition, for households this condition will threaten health problems due to being infected with COVID-19, the threat of losing income and unable to meet basic household needs.

Some of the roles of the Ministry of Social Affairs in the field of Social Rehabilitation in handling COVID-19 are preparing a Social Rehabilitation Center / Education and Training Center for quarantine, especially Patients under Supervision (PDP). The places that have been prepared include the Tanjung Pinang Protection House and Trauma Center (RPTC) which serves the repatriation of Indonesian KPO Migrants from Johor Baru, Malaysia with a capacity of 400 people, RPTC Bambu Apus or Balai Bambu Apus with a capacity of 150 people and Balai Watunas "Mulya Jaya" Bekasi with a capacity of 130 people. This quarantine place will be equipped with the necessary tools in the quarantine process.

The Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation is also refocusing the budget for handling the impact of COVID-19 amounting to IDR 12.2 Billion. This budget is used for the provision of masks, hand sanitizers and hand washing soap, multivitamins for body immunity, as well as vaccinations for 2,900 civil servants, central PPNPN and UPT, as well as 3,403 social workers and companions. In addition, the budget is also used for spraying disinfectants throughout the UPT Work Unit Building within the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation (41 Work Units).

Another effort that has been made by the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation is the provision of basic foods to 12,350 beneficiaries of social rehabilitation in 5 clusters through Social Welfare Institutions (LKS) throughout Jabodetabek. A total of 6,000 packages for 276 LKS children, 700 packages for 22 LKS with disabilities, 5,200 basic food packages were distributed to 114 LKS elderly, 150 packages were distributed to 11 LKS victims of drug abuse and 300 packages distributed to 11 LKS social disabled and victims of human trafficking. This basic food assistance is in the form of side dishes, children's meals and ready-to-eat meals.

Apart from the assistance provided during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation continues to provide regular social assistance which is usually given every year. In the children cluster, children's social rehabilitation assistance was provided to 183,104 children in the amount of IDR 1 Million / Child / Year which consists of IDR 300 thousand for assistance aimed at fulfilling nutrition, course fees, recreational activities, and / or other children's activities as needed and IDR 700 thousand for childcare activities, family support and therapy. Distribution of assistance through the Child Social Rehabilitation Center and LKSA according to the DTKS.

In the persons with disabilities cluster (PD), regular social assistance will be provided to 23,700 PD in the amount of IDR 2 Million / PD / Year. This assistance is for therapy, care and social care needs as well as family support. The recipients of this assistance are in accordance with the data listed in the Management Information System for Persons with Disabilities (SIMPD).

In the elderly cluster, regular social assistance to be given to 30,200 elderly is IDR 2.7 Million / Year / Elderly for the maintenance of health conditions, social conditions, for social care, physical therapy and family support. Beneficiaries based on DTKS and channeled through Balai LU and LKS-LU.

In the cluster of victims of drug abuse, regular social assistance will be provided in the form of inpatient social rehabilitation assistance of IDR 1.45 Million / PM / Month and outpatient IDR 1 Million / PM / Month. In addition, there is also after care social assistance of IDR 2 Million / PM. The target recipients of assistance in 2020 are planned to be 20,000 PM.

In the social disabled and victims of human trafficking cluster, the social assistance to be provided is tailored to the target. The target of the former General Penitentiary Assisted Citizens (BWBP) with a target of 80 PM will receive social skills assistance of IDR 1 Million and independent business assistance of IDR 5 Million / PM / Year.

The BWBP target of Terrorism with a target of 50 PM also received social skills assistance of IDR 1 Million and self-reliance business assistance of IDR 5 Million / PM / Year, while for people living with HIV / AIDS with a target of 300 PM will receive skills guidance assistance of IDR 1 Million and independence assistance of IDR 5 Million / PM / Year.

The Social Rehabilitation Center also took part in handling COVID-19. One of them is the support from Balai Wirajaya Makassar which produces 100 pcs of cloth masks a day for use by PM and employees. Even the plans will be shared with the needy. The PM at the "Prof. Dr. Soeharso" Surakarta Hall also produced up to 200 pcs of masks per day and hand sanitizers which were then distributed free of charge to residents in Jebres Village, Solo.

The Minister of Social Affairs said that he would act quickly and appropriately in handling this COVID-19. "The Ministry of Social Affairs will act quickly and accurately. Our accuracy can be accounted for," he said. The Minister of Social Affairs also added that as much as possible he would accommodate all the families recorded in the DTKS.