Stimulus to Save PKH Beneficiaries During the Pandemic

Stimulus to Save PKH Beneficiaries During the Pandemic
Writer :
Joko Hariyanto (OHH Ditjen Linjamsos)
Editor :
Annisa YH
Translator :
Intan Qonita N

SURAKARTA (September 25, 2020) - The Ministry of Social Affairs continues to encourage Family Beneficiaries (KPM) of the Family Hope Program (PKH) Graduation not to fall back into poverty during the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the efforts made is by disbursing a Business Capital Incentive Stimulant Assistance (BSIMU) as much as Rp5 billion for 10.000 KPM.

Through the Social Entrepreneurship Program, the Ministry of Social Affairs encourages the strengthening of micro-enterprises which are also expected to be able to drive the economy.

The benefits of this stimulant assistance have already begun to be felt by a number of Independent Graduation KPMs. Lestari (50), one of them, KPM Graduasi from Karanganyar Regency who owns this convection business, admitted that she was greatly helped by the BSIMU of the Ministry of Social Affairs.

"This assistance really helps me in running my business, especially during a pandemic like this," said Lestari.

Despite getting help, Lestari admits that she continues to rack her brain to arrange strategies so that her convection business can survive during the pandemic.

One of the strategies taken, he said, was to go directly to the owner of an online clothing store to offer sewing services.

"With training on social media while I was a PKH KPM, even during this pandemic, I went through social media to find the address of the shop owner and went to him to offer sewing services," explained this mother of 4 children.

Moreover, according to him, he already has a number of employees whose wages must still be met.

"During this pandemic, no matter how many sewing orders I receive, the important thing is that there is income. During this pandemic, I was forced to reduce the number of employees from 12 to 5 tailors, I also went down directly to sewing," she explained.

Lestari is not the only one, as many as 182,611 KPM in Central Java have declared themselves to independently withdraw from PKH.

The Director General of Social Protection and Security, Pepen Nazaruddin, explained that the government will continue to monitor and provide assistance to KPM PKH who have graduated so that they do not fall into poverty again or drop out of class.

"Like schoolchildren, KPM has gone up a grade or has graduated. If you have graduated, don't go back to being a KPM. If you have graduated, you should go to a higher school," explained Pepen.

Pepen added that the task of the state in reducing poverty is not only the work of the central government and local governments. But, he continued, what was more important was the motivation from within the KPM concerned.

"KPM must have motivation to live a better future. Good for KPM, good for Indonesia in the future," said the bespectacled man.

If poverty can be reduced immediately, added Pepen, then the hopes of the President and the Minister of Social Affairs that Indonesia become a middle-income country in 2045, exactly 100 years of Indonesia's independence, can be achieved well," he said.

Therefore, Pepen continues to emphasize the importance of the role of PKH companions who are expected to provide skills and knowledge to KPM, "Including how to manage aid funds so as to increase KPM productivity," he said.
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