Social Minister Instructs KPM Movement Holds its Own KKS

JAKARTA (3 June 2020) - Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara has instructed the Movement of Beneficiary Family (KPM) to hold their own Welfare Family Card (KKS). This was conveyed in the Family Hope Program (PKH) Coordination Meeting held online, 3 June 2020.

"Based on the information I received, there are still KKS that are not directly held by KPM PKH. I ask the PKH Coordinator in the field to ensure that KKS can really be held by KPM to reduce the risk of abuse," said Minister of Social Affairs Ari.

In addition, the Minister continued, the KPM Movement Holds its Own KKS is intended to make KPM independent in taking cash social assistance and increase KPM awareness and willingness to practice transactions using KKS.

Since 2016 President Joko Widodo has launched an integrated social assistance distribution policy through one card, the KKS in cooperation with the State Association Bank (Himbara), namely BNI, BRI, BTN, and Bank Mandiri. In June 2020, a total of Rp2.4 trillion in PKH social assistance was distributed to 10 million KPM through Himbara Bank.

Based on the Decree of the Director General of Social Security Protection Number: 04/3/ OT.02.01/1/2020 concerning Technical Guidelines for the Distribution of Non-Cash Social Assistance, chapter II of Socialization and Education, letter f states that the use / withdrawal of PKH social assistance accounts, including the type of savings / card, maximum transactions, activation, replacement of PIN (Personal Identification Number) and other facilities carried out by KPM.

"Therefore, I ask the Regional Coordinator to increase supervision to the companion level. There is no need for convoluted bureaucracy. The most important is all social assistance right on target," said Juliari

Meanwhile, Director General of Social Security Protection Pepen Nazaruddin said the PKH national coordination meeting (Rakornas) online aims to discuss current issues about PKH facilitator performance, increase knowledge, skills and attitudes, and discuss the implementation of PKH Social Assistance every month in order to overcome the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The National Coordination Meeting was attended by 166 participants consisting of 34 Heads of the Provincial Social Services Agency, 6 Regional Coordinators, 78 Area Coordinators, 22 Structural Officers and 23 Coordinators of the Family Social Security Directorate. 

New Normality of PKH Social Assistance Distribution

On the same occasion, Juliari appealed to PKH facilitator to pay attention of health protocols when escorting PKH social assistance in the field as recommended by President Joko Widodo.

The recommended health protocols when distributing PKH social assistance include leaving the house in good health and wearing a mask; avoid the crowd; not shake hands and keep distance from others at least one meter; not touching the face (eyes, nose and mouth); washing hands with soap / hand sanitizer after transaction, take money at an ATM or EDC shopping machine at e-Warong; go home immediately after taking social assistance; and immediately take a shower, change clothes.

"In addition, what is also important is to ensure that social assistance money is only to buy basic needs, nutritious food and children's school needs," he concluded.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way of life as a way of communicating and socializing which is now practiced more virtually. This also has an impact on the current PKH facilitator coordination system that can be done online.

According to Juliari, one of the implications of the existence of a pandemic is that coordination can save costs because it is done virtually.

"Therefore, I sincerely hope that we can coordinate intensively with the PKH Coordinator, PKH facilitator and Social Services Agency."explained Social Minister.