Social Minister Wants Social Assistance Encourages Citizens Economic Turnover

West Bandung (May 29, 2020) - Social Minister Juliari P. Batubara is reviewing the acceleration of the distribution of the Cash Social Assistance (BST) and the Basic Food Card Assistance in West Bandung districts, i.e.: Mandalamukti Village Meeting Hall, Mandalamukti Post Office Cikalong Wetan Sub-District and Margalaksana Village, Cipeundeuy Sub District.

On this field visit, Juliari along with the Coordinating Minister of Human Development and Culture (PMK) Muhadjir Effendy, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, Director General of Poverty Handling Asep Sasa Purnama, the Head of Education, Research and Social Counseling Agency (BP3S) Syahabuddin, the Director General of Rural Development and Empowerment (PPMD) of Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (Kemendes PDTT) Taufiq Madjid, the Deputy 2 Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture Tubagus Achmad Choesni, and the representative of the Government of West Java Province and West Bandung Districts.

"This is a complete package, the residents receive a basic food card program from the government of Rp. 200 thousand per month, spent in their own villages with suppliers from residents, the money just goes around here," said Juliari at the Margalaksana Village Office Hall, Kecamatan Cipeundey, West Bandung Regency, Friday (5/29/2020).

Juliari said, he hoped that the addition of the Beneficiary Families (KPM) of the basic food program to 20 million heads of households (KK), especially in West Java with the most KPM, could drive the community's economy.

"Social Assistance is not only from the central government, but also from the Governor, the Mayor and the Regent, so that the local economy can move," said the Minister.

On this occasion, BST was distributed, basic food assistance, and distribution of Family Welfare Cards (KKS) for residents who had entered the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS).

At the Pos Indonesia office at Jalan Raya Purwakarta No 196, Mandalamukti, Kecamatan Cikalong Wetan, West Bandung Regency, Juliari stated that social assistance recipient data is now getting better. This cannot be separated from the good cooperation between the central and regional governments.

"There are no obstacles. We can consolidate the data with the regional governments to make the recipients of social assistance better and right on target, "said Juliari.

Distribution of BST through PT Pos almost reached 4,000 families spread across 13 villages in the Kecamatan Cikalong Wetan. The distribution of BST is phase I, which had previously been going on for three days.

It is targeted that the remaining recipients of BST as many as 400 families can be completed today from the residents of Desa Cisomang Barat, Cipagumati, Mandalamukti, and Wangunjaya.

Until now, the realization of the distribution of social assistance in the West Java province has reached more than 80 percent and well channelled.

"After Eid, distribution of social assistance in West Java has reached 80 percent, because previously there were difficult terrain constraints," said Minister of Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy.

The distribution of BST made one of the widows, Ms. Maryam, 65 years old, feel happy because so far, she has never received any assistance from the central and regional governments.

" I had never got any assistance from the government so far, but thank God now I have accepted that. But it was previously recorded by the RT / RW and improved the identity card / family card in the village, "said Maryam.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Maryam claimed daily life was quite disrupted specially to meet family needs. Moreover, she does not work only relying on the legacy of her husband.

"Yes, it's quite disturbing. Mother does not work, only relying on her husband who is not much. But very grateful to be able to receive social assistance, hopefully the government continues to care for residents like her who are affected by COVID-19, "she said.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs