Social Affairs Minister Inspects Surabaya Public Kitchens, Ensures Food Support for Communities Affected by the Pandemic

SURABAYA (July 19, 2021) – Following up on directions from the President, Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini ensured the readiness of all levels of MoSA to move quickly to provide services to the community. Moreover, there is an increase in regular social assistance and additional special assistance to meet basic needs in the form of rice for the community.

On Sunday (18/07), Minister Risma inspected the public kitchen in the courtyard of the Convention Hall on Jalan Arif Rahman Hakim, Surabaya City, East Java. She ensured that all volunteers for the social pillars of the Disaster Preparedness Cadets (Tagana), Community Social Workers (PSM), District Social Welfare Workers (TKSK), Family Hope Program (PKH) companions, and Youth Organizations worked faster.

Dressed in a gray-brown dress, hooded, black gloves, wearing a mask and goggles, she checks out the ready-to-eat food production process. The Minister put the rice and side dishes into several of the thousands of boxes on the table that had been arranged neatly.

The Minister made a friendly and warm conversation with Tagana and the social pillars. To lighten the mood and pump up the enthusiasm of the volunteers from the social pillars, she shouted Tagana slogans and even took selfies with the volunteers.

The person in charge of the Surabaya public kitchen, Joko Purnomo stated, that every day he produces thousands of boxed rice and boiled eggs which are distributed to people who are self-isolating, health workers, and PPKM insulation officers. Distribution is also made to hospitals, health laboratories, and Social Welfare Institutions (LKS).

"As for the distribution reach of thousands of boxed rice and boiled eggs covering areas in Surabaya City, Sidoarjo Regency, Gresik Regency, and Bangkalan Regency," he said. Assistance for ready-to-eat food and boiled eggs was distributed to medical personnel, emergency community activity restrictions (PPKM) officers such as the TNI-Polri (Indonesian Army/Police), Satpol PP (Civil Service Police Unit), transportation services, graveyard workers, as well as some of the underprivileged residents who are self-isolating.

To anticipate the impact of the Emergency PPKM policy, MoSA has also optimized the Family Hope Program (PKH) social assistance, Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT)/Sembako Cards, and BST. The disbursement of these three types of social assistance is accelerated, with the hope of increasing the purchasing power of the beneficiaries.

MoSA also cooperates with Perum Bulog by distributing 10 kg rice packages per KPM for 10 million KPM PKH and 10 million KPM BST. MoSA only sends recipient data to the Ministry of Finance. Perum Bulog plays a role in providing and distributing rice to KPM.