The MoSA Distributes 3,000 Rice Packages for Residents Affected by Emergency PPKM in Tangerang City

TANGERANG (July 28, 2021) – The Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) distributed 3,000 packages of rice to residents affected by the implementation of the Java-Bali Emergency Public Activity Restrictions (PPKM) in 13 sub-districts in Tangerang City, Banten Province.

By the direction and instructions of the Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini, the MoSA gave five kilograms of rice assistance per sack to all regencies/cities affected by Emergency PPKM in Java-Bali.

"The Ministry will assist approximately 3,000 rice packages of five kilograms each for each Regency/City, which later ladies and gentlemen, Regional Heads can hand over to residents, especially those who are not among the recipients of social assistance," said Social Affairs Minister Risma to Regional Heads through a virtual meeting some time ago.

According to Risma, recipients of the five kilograms of rice assistance are intended for communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, apart from recipients of Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT), Family Hope Program (PKH), and Cash Social Assistance (BST).

"Therefore, the rice is used to relieve the community, for example, traders, who are currently not allowed to sell, or motorbike taxi drivers, who cannot work because of this pandemic, regional heads can distribute the rice to them," added Risma.
The distribution of the five kilograms of rice assistance was carried out through the Tangerang City Social Office with the sub-district and village heads in the Tangerang City area.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many residents to lose their income and even their jobs due to being temporarily laid off for an indefinite period. Several residents admitted that they had been helped by the rice assistance during difficult PPKM times like this.

One of them, Mega, is a resident of Tanah Tinggi Village, Tangerang District. Before the pandemic hit, Mega and her husband worked as private employees with a Regional Minimum Wage (UMR) salary.

However, after the pandemic, she and her husband were forced to be laid off by the company where they worked so they became casual workers. Erratic work forced Mega to look for other alternatives as additional income.

The rice assistance she received made this mother of one grateful, "Yes, Alhamdulillah, so I don't have to buy rice anymore, the money can be used to buy other side dishes," she said gratefully.

Similar to Mega, Novi, who sells french fries, also admits that her income has decreased as a result of the pandemic. Novi, who under normal circumstances could earn up to IDR300,000 per day, has to be satisfied with IDR150,000 earnings per day during the pandemic as a result of PPKM.

Novi is also among the communities receiving five kilograms of rice assistance. She felt grateful and happy for the assistance. “Alhamdulillah, I hope that in the future, I can also get other assistance to support my needs at home," she said.