The Merchants at Pasar Surakarta Promise to Use MoSA’s Assistance as Capital Funding

SURAKARTA (26 May 2022) - As in several other regions, the presence of President Joko Widodo always invites public attention. His presence at Pasar Mojosongo was no exception. The merchants greeted him with shouts of enthusiasm.

Waving his hand, the President, accompanied by the Minister of Social Affairs, Tri Rismaharini, entered the market. The president greeted and occasionally stopped having a dialogue with the merchants. On the occasion, the President also handed over assistance in a white envelope.

The President suggested to the beneficiaries that the assistance be used for urgent needs. "You can't buy cigarettes nor credit. Preferably for capital funding or cooking oil," said the President, together with the first lady of Indonesia, Mrs Iriana (26/05).

On that occasion, the President and Mrs Iriana also had time to buy salted eggs, fruits, and cooking utensils such as ladles and stilts when visiting the market. To the media, the President stated that the assistance was for merchants, MSMEs, and street vendors in Pasar Mojosongo, Pasar Gede, Pasar Gading, and also Pasar Harjodaksino.

“The assistance is also for the artists. And there is also additional capital funding to encourage the economy to recover," said the President. One of the merchants of lenjongan (typical sweet snacks of the city of Surakarta) named Rubina expressed her gratitude for the assistance that the President and Mrs Iriana had given.

"Thank you. I will use the assistance for adding merchandise, paying rent, and covering the daily needs of the family. Thank you very much," said Rubina at Pasar Gede.

Hermawan, a pedicab driver in Pasar Gede, also expressed his gratitude since he and his colleagues directly received assistance from the President. “All pedicab drivers around Solo got assistance. Thanks to Mr Jokowi as the President,” said Hermawan.

At Pasar Harjodaksino, Aminah on behalf of other traders expressed her gratitude for the assistance that had been given. Aminah said the assistance would be used to increase capital funding. “I am delighted. The assistance will be used as capital funding. Thank you for your concern for the people like us," Aminah said.

Aminah's colleague at Mojosongo Market, Suwarni (51), said she was happy to get the government's attention. This resident of Mojosongo RT 05/32, Jebres District admitted that this was the first time she had received Working Capital Assistance (BMK) and basic food assistance.

Suwarni's income is not much, even though she usually sells her merchandise from one place to another. She begins by selling on the sidewalk, moving around in front of the Surakarta City Hall, Pasar Legi at night and stopping at Pasar Mojosongo in the morning.

"Thank you so much for the assistance. It is very useful. Hopefully, my merchandise will be sold out so it can support my family's needs," she said.

Aside from Pasar Mojosongo, the President and his entourage also went to Pasar Gede, Surakarta City. The President's agenda was the same, namely to symbolically distribute Cooking Oil Direct Cash Assistance (BLT), ATENSI assistance for vulnerable groups and social assistance for the Family Hope Program (PKH) and Non-Cash Food Assistance Program (BPNT).

At Pasar Mojosongo, ATENSI assistance provided was in the form of accessibility assistance (tricycle motorbikes, adaptive wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs, and adaptive guide sticks), BMK (sewing supplies, angkringan stall, Indonesian spiced coconut rice or liwet rice supplies), as well as assistance for orphans and productive elderly. The total assistance was IDR 130,395,747 for 10 beneficiaries.

In addition, it was also symbolically handed over the Social Assistance Program for PKH, BPNT and BLT Cooking Oil for 7 beneficiaries with a total of IDR6,425,000. Meanwhile, at Pasar Gede the ATENSI assistance provided was in the form of accessibility assistance (tricycle motorbikes, adaptive wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs, multi-purpose wheelchairs, adaptive guide sticks), BMK (sewing supplies, rice and side dishes supplies) amounting to IDR 129,569,450. for 10 beneficiaries.

Also in Pasar Gede, social assistance of PKH, BPNT and BLT Cooking Oil was symbolically given to 7 beneficiaries with the value of IDR 7,700,000.

Di Kota Surakarta sendiri untuk salur bansos minyak goreng periode Mei 2022 sebanyak 40.302 KPM, PKH tahap 2 sebanyak 20.229 KPM (Rp. 14.207.075.000), dan BPNT sembako sebanyak 40.302 KPM. 

In Surakarta, the distribution of social assistance for BLT cooking oil for the May 2022 period was 40,302 beneficiaries, PKH phase 2 was 20,229 beneficiaries (IDR 14,207,075,000), and BPNT was 40,302 beneficiaries.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs