SLRT Take a Part in Guiding Social Assistance while COVID-19

WEST BANDUNG (June 15, 2020) - Distribution of social assistance for affected communities COVID-19 continues to be carried out by the Ministry of Social Affairs in order to maintain accountability. The process of the distribution of social assistance needs to be guarded by all parties. One of facilitates used to escort the distribution of social assistance is through “Sistem Layanan dan Rujukan Terpadu” or known as SLRT (Integrated Referral Service and System).

On the same day while Director General of Social Empowerment, Edi Suharto, distributed 2000 packages of Social Assistance “Kemensos Hadir” (Ministry of Social Affairs At Hand) in West Bandung Regency, he also visited SLRT at the West Bandung Regency Social Service.

SLRT is an integrated social service in the district/city. SLRT provides referrals for residents who have complaints about social services, including complaints about social assistance issues, both regular and non-regular social assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic for residents who have not yet received assistance.

SLRT is a social service system that identifies the needs and complaints of disadvantaged communities, as well as providing references, among others, to the Health Office, the Education Office and the Civil Registry Office for complaints experienced by the community if it is not yet completed in the SLRT. SLRT is also developed at the village/urban village level by the name of “Pusat Kesejahteraan Sosial” or Puskesos (Social Welfare Center) which is a miniature SLRT located in the village or urban village always ready to serve the community. Currently there are as many as 150 SLRT organizers and 300 Community Health Centers spread across districts/cities throughout Indonesia. The system used by SLRT has been integrated with SIKS-NG in the Ministry of Social Affairs Pusdatin.

Regarding recipient data, during a visit to the West Bandung Regency SLRT, the Director General of Social Empowerment emphasized that there should not be double data. In a sense one recipient receives help from more than one source.

"For the recipient community, aid cannot be double. So those who have received assistance from the ministry cannot get more assistance from the local government," said Edi.

Since 2016, the SLRT in West Bandung Regency (KBB) has been formed. The KBB SLRT Secretariat has 6 human resources consisting of 1 manager, 3 Front Office (FO) and 2 Back Office (BO). Along with the formation of SLRT, West Bandung Regency has 2 Puskesos as the formation of the center in 2016, namely in Pataruman Village and Cihampelas Village in Cihampelas District.

"This KBB SLRT was formed in 2016 and is considered good. Because there is support from the Regional Government in terms of budget to support this SLRT," explained the Technical Staff of the PSPKKM Directorate Bambang Mulyadi when accompanying the visit.

"After 3 years of assistance from Ministry of Social Affairs, we will then submit it to the regions to be able to provide budget support for SLRT," continued Bambang.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of complaints by the people served increased. Usually in one day Ministry of Social Affairs serves an average of 20 complaints. On these days, it can be as many as 30-40 complaints one day. The majority of complaints are related to the PKH and BPNT programs, as well as KIS, KIP and Family Card (KK) services.

"Handling complaints and during this pandemic most complaints are help complaint. For example, they have already received help but how come the help is different. Most of them ask for more assistance, for example they want cash assistance," explained Head of Poor Empowerment Section of the West Bandung District Social Service Dian Suhartini .

Answering the community's complaints, KBB SLRT collaborated with village local officials, RT, RW and Lurah. The District Social Welfare Workers (Tenaga Kesejahteraan Sosial Kecamatan or TKSK), Youth Organization and Community Social Workers (Pekerja Sosial Masyarakat or PSM) are also involved in handling community complaints. In addition, the involvement of the Local Government is needed. So that KBB SLRT always coordinates with related parties to continue referral regarding social services complained of by the community. For example the Health Office regarding KIS complaints, the Education Office regarding KIP, and the Civil Registry Office regarding Family Cards (KK).

"To facilitate coordination, we involve, among others, the DHO and Disdik as elements involved in SLRT services," said Head of Social Empowerment of the West Java Province Social Office Elis Kartini.

At the time of this pandemic, KBB SLRT had already implemented health protocols during services, including wearing masks and providing hand sanitizers.