MoSA and Member of Commission VIII DPR RI Distribute Aid to Ensure the Economic Sustainability of PPKS in Jambi

JAMBI (May 9, 2023) - The Ministry of Social Affairs distributed aid to the Social Welfare Service for Persons in Need (PPKS). In Jambi Province, the Ministry of Social Affairs together with Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI) handed over aid worth Rp 179 billion.

The moment coincided with the working visit of Commission VIII DPR RI during the recess of Session IV Year 2022-2023 at Alyatama Center in Jambi, on Tuesday (9/5).

"There are three major programs of the Ministry of Social Affairs that are also implemented in Jambi, namely the Basic Food Assistance, the Family Hope Program (PKH), and ATENSI (Social Rehabilitation Assistance). All of them are currently being distributed in all regions of Indonesia," said the Head of Inten Soeweno Bogor Integrated Center M. O. Royani, the person in charge of assisting with the visit of Commission VIII DPR RI to Jambi.

Assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs in addition to meeting basic needs is also to seek the empowerment of vulnerable groups such as the elderly and disabilities. This is intended so that PPKS remains productive until it can finally be economically independent.

The economic sustainability scheme for PPKS has the support of members of Commission VIII DPR RI as a partner of the Ministry of Social Affairs.

"We see that some assistance like economic empowerment in the form of business capital aid provided to the community. I think this is a fairly effective program because low-income people will increase their income with this aid," said Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII DPR RI, Tb. Ace Hasan Syadzily.

In line with Ace Hasan's statement, data from the Central Statistics Agency shows that the poverty rate in Jambi Province decreased from 8.09% in March 2021 to 7.7% in September 2022.

Related to this, Commission VIII DPR RI emphasized that updating data on beneficiaries must be carried out continuously so that the assistance provided to the community is right on target. Of course, this requires synergy between the central and regional governments.

"It must be integrated between the central government and local governments in dealing with social welfare issues," continued Ace Hasan.

For future expectations, Ace said that assistance that fulfills basic needs can be used as well as possible, while assistance like economic empowerment can encourage economic recovery and community empowerment. "Thus, there is community continuity in meeting their economic needs," Ace said.

In Jambi Province, the assistance distributed consists of PKH Phase 1 aid worth IDR 73,298,525,000, - for 101,024 KPM, and Phase 2 worth IDR 69,089,050,000, - intended for 95,289 KPM.

In addition, Phase 2 Basic Food / NPNT assistance worth IDR 34,837,400,000 was also distributed, with a total of 174,187 KPM recipients and ATENSI worth IDR 2,222,029,100.

"Especially for ATENSI, the Ministry of Social Affairs provides a variety of assistance according to the results of the assessment whether the person concerned needs assistive devices or business capital development assistance," said Royani.

The beneficiary felt the benefits of the aid Deny Gunawan (40), one of the beneficiaries of ATENSI in the form of a 3-wheeled motorcycle, said he was happy with the aid he received.

"I am very happy to receive this aid because it is very useful for selling cakes and making deliveries," said Deny.

Deny is a person with physical disabilities who sells traditional cakes at home. He relies on orders that come to his house to sell his wares. 

Deny has a dream that the business he is running with his wife can reach more customers and more people will recognize his business. 

"Hopefully, in the future, the business will be more advanced. Usually, we do it at home, maybe if we go out we can get more customers," Deny concluded.