SURABAYA (July 19,
2021) – Following up on directions from the President, Minister of Social
Affairs Tri Rismaharini ensured the readiness of all levels of MoSA to move
quickly to provide services to the community. Moreover, there is an increase in
regular social assistance and additional special assistance to
meet basic needs in the form of rice for the community.
On Sunday (18/07), Minister
Risma inspected the public kitchen in the courtyard of the
Convention Hall on Jalan Arif Rahman Hakim, Surabaya City, East Java. She
ensured that all volunteers for the social pillars of the Disaster Preparedness
Cadets (Tagana), Community Social Workers (PSM), District Social Welfare
Workers (TKSK), Family Hope Program (PKH) companions, and Youth Organizations
worked faster.
Dressed in a
gray-brown dress, hooded, black gloves, wearing a mask and goggles, she checks
out the ready-to-eat food production process. The Minister put the rice and
side dishes into several of the thousands of boxes on the table that had been
arranged neatly.
The Minister made a
friendly and warm conversation with Tagana and the social pillars. To lighten
the mood and pump up the enthusiasm of the volunteers from the social pillars, she
shouted Tagana slogans and even took selfies with the volunteers.
The person in
charge of the Surabaya public kitchen, Joko Purnomo stated, that every day he
produces thousands of boxed rice and boiled eggs which are distributed to
people who are self-isolating, health workers, and PPKM insulation officers.
Distribution is also made to hospitals, health laboratories, and Social Welfare
Institutions (LKS).
"As for the
distribution reach of thousands of boxed rice and boiled eggs covering areas in
Surabaya City, Sidoarjo Regency, Gresik Regency, and Bangkalan Regency," he
said. Assistance for ready-to-eat food and boiled eggs was distributed to
medical personnel, emergency community activity restrictions (PPKM) officers
such as the TNI-Polri (Indonesian Army/Police), Satpol PP (Civil Service Police
Unit), transportation services, graveyard workers, as well as some of the
underprivileged residents who are self-isolating.
To
anticipate the impact of the Emergency PPKM policy, MoSA has also optimized the
Family Hope Program (PKH) social assistance, Non-Cash Food Assistance
(BPNT)/Sembako Cards, and BST. The disbursement of these three types of social
assistance is accelerated, with the hope of increasing the purchasing power of
the beneficiaries.
MoSA also
cooperates with Perum Bulog by distributing 10 kg rice packages per KPM for 10
million KPM PKH and 10 million KPM BST. MoSA only sends recipient data to the
Ministry of Finance. Perum Bulog plays a role in providing and distributing
rice to KPM.
Then, MoSA also distributed 5 kg of rice assistance specifically for the informal sector workers in Java-Bali who were unable to work due to restrictions on activities in Emergency PPKM.