JAKARTA, (18 July 2021) - The Ministry of Social Affairs distributes 5 kg rice aid to informal sector workers in Java-Bali who face difficulties due to the activity restrictions policy . The recipient data is from the regional government proposal.

Social Minister Tri Rismaharini stated that the recipients of the 5 kg rice aid were those who were not the recipients of the three types of existing social assistance, namely the Family Hope Program (PKH), Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT)/Sembako Cards and Cash Social Aid (BST).

“The recipient data of the 5 kg rice aid are from the regional government's proposal. They are people affected by the pandemic and are not registered as recipients of three types of social assistance, namely PKH, BPNT / Basic Food Cards and BST. Later the distribution will also be carried out by the social service or other local government elements," said the Minister of Social Affairs in Jakarta (18/07).

As many as 5 kg of rice aid was specifically distributed to informal sector workers affected by the pandemic in Java and Bali, namely the Emergency Public Activity Restriction (PPKM) area. They are food stall owners, street vendors, motorcycle taxi drivers, casual workers, day laborers, contract employees, and so on who cannot work due to activity restrictions.

For this purpose, the Ministry of Social Affairs has prepared a total of 2,010 tons of rice. A total of 122 regency/city governments received 3,000 packages of rice each (5 kg per package) and 6,000 packages (5 kg per package) for six provincial capitals.

The Ministry of Social Affairs is also partnering with Perum Bulog in distributing rice for 10 million PKH beneficiary families (KPM) and 10 million BST beneficiary families (KPM) weighing 10 kg per KPM. "Perum Bulog distributes the rice aid. The Ministry of Social Affairs only sends recipient data to the Ministry of Finance. The total volume for rice from Bulog is 200,000,000 kg.

In contrast to rice aid from the Ministry of Social Affairs weighing 5 kg, rice from Perum Bulog weighing 10 kg is distributed on a national scale.

"We hope that the rice aid will be able to fulfill some of the basic needs of the KPM affected by the pandemic," said the Social Minister.

The Ministry of Social Affairs also optimizes regular social assistance programs, namely PKH, BPNT/Sembako Cards and BST. The third phase of PKH disbursement for the July-August-September will be distributed in July 2021.

"The Ministry of Social Affairs has also disbursed BST for 10 million KPM for 2 months of May-June, which was disbursed in July. Then, 18.8 million BPNT/Sembako Cards beneficiary families will get an additional two months, namely in July and August,” said the Social Minister.

The budget for PKH is Rp. 28.3 trillion, and BPNT/Kartu Sembako is Rp. 42.3 trillion, disbursed through State Bank Association (Himbara). Meanwhile, BST with a budget of Rp. 15.1 trillion is distributed by PT Pos Indonesia. "These three social assistance are expected to increase people's purchasing power," said the Social Minister.

Public Relations Bureau
Ministry of Social Affairs