President Launches PKH 2021 Cash Aid, PKH Beneficiaries: Increasing Needs, Right Disbursement Time

President Launches PKH 2021 Cash Aid, PKH Beneficiaries: Increasing Needs, Right Disbursement Time
Writer :
Ria Desy Saputra
Editor :
Alek Triyono (OHH Ditjen Linjamsos) ; Annisa YH
Translator :
Intan Qonita N

JAKARTA (January 5, 2021) - Family Beneficiaries (KPM) of the Family Hope Program (PKH) welcome the launch of cash assistance by President Joko Widodo at the State Palace, Jakarta, Monday (4/1). is increasing and children are restarting online schooling.

"Alhamdulillah, if it can be disbursed. The time is right for the children to go to school," said KPM PKH from Purwojati District, Banyumas Regency, Siti Soliyah (45), Tuesday (5/5).

She said that the semester break was over and the children started school today. Although the school takes place online and there is credit assistance from the government, PKH assistance is still needed to buy daily food needs.

"Children usually buy a lot of food (snacks). PKH assistance can be used to buy rice, eggs or fish. Despite being in mediocre condition, the nutrition of children must be considered," said the mother of three.

Meanwhile, PKH recipients, Irmi Yusnita (43), welcomed the distribution of PKH. "Hopefully the distribution reaches the community, it can run smoothly and COVID-19 will be finished quickly so that I can trade again," she said.

The woman who lives in Menteng Sub-district, Central Jakarta, admitted that since the COVID-19 pandemic she has relied heavily on government assistance to fulfill her daily needs. She is grateful to have received PKH and the Basic Food Program.

"Alhamdulillah, our lives are helped with these two aids. Every month we can buy rice with the basic food card. Every three months we can buy children's school needs with PKH assistance," he said.

Irmi said that before the pandemic, she was selling nasi uduk and nasi ulam in front of her relative's house where she and her family resided.

"Since there was COVID-19, my stall was forced to close. In the past, gross income could be IDR 300,000 - 500,000 per day, now it is very difficult. The prices of chili, fish, ang eggs in the market are increasing. If I increase the price of packaged rice, no one will buy it," she said.

Life becomes more difficult for Irmi because she has to be the main breadwinner. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, her husband, who works as a casual laborer, only works occasionally.

"Now I work, taking care of my nephew's children, cooking, ironing, and washing clothes. I work from morning to evening. Thank God, I can earn IDR 1 million a month," she said, hoping that the pandemic would soon be resolved so he could sell again.

Cash Assistance for the People

President Joko Widodo said that in 2021 the distribution of cash assistance would continue. The government through the 2021 APBN has prepared a total budget of IDR 110 trillion for three types of assistance, namely PKH, the Basic Food Program, and Cash Social Assistance (BST).

To note, PKH is distributed in 4 stages (January, April, July, October) through HIMBARA to improve family health, improve children's education, and reduce family burdens. The total number of PKH recipients is 10 million KPM. Meanwhile, the basic food program is Rp. 200 thousand per month per family for 20 million KPM, and BST is IDR 300,000 per month per KK which is distributed for four months (January-April) through PT. POS Indonesia.

"We hope that this assistance can relieve families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, can be a trigger to move our national economy, strengthen people's purchasing power so that national economic growth increases and is better," said the President in front of representatives of KPM recipients of cash assistance.

The President also advised KPM to use aid appropriately. He also emphasized to all parties involved in the distribution so that the assistance received by KPM was intact without any deductions or fees.

"So that the value of the aid received is intact, there are no deductions. Please, (the KPM) has to remind neighbors or other recipients so that they know that there are no deductions for this aid," he said.

The President continued, "Therefore, I instruct the Ministers and Governors to oversee the distribution process so that it is fast and on target so that the economic impact can appear immediately and increase our economic growth and of course so that people do not wait too long."

Meanwhile, Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini revealed that since the President launched cash assistance simultaneously on January 4, 2021, as of that date, PKH could be disbursed throughout Indonesia.

"At the end of 2020, all teams at the Ministry of Social Affairs all came out of work to prepare the disbursement of cash assistance and I appreciate their hard work and thorough work so that in early 2021 PKH has been used by the community," said Risma.
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