Minister of Social Affairs Monitors the Distribution of Cash Social Assistance in Surakarta

SURAKARTA (21 May 2020) - Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari P. Batubara accompanied by the Secretary General, Hartono Laras, as well as the Head of the Education, Research and Social Counseling Agency, Syahabuddin and echelon II officials within the Ministry of Social Affairs conducted a working visit in Surakarta to directly monitor the distribution Cash Social Assistance (BST) in Jagalan Subdistrict, Jebres Subdistrict, Surakarta City.

Jagalan is one of 54 urban villages in the city of Surakarta where BST is distributed with a target of 711 KPM.

The distribution of BST for the Surakarta City area which was given to 34,134 KPM in 5 sub-districts and 54 sub-districts has started since May 15 and ended on May 22, 2020.

The Center for Social Rehabilitation of Persons with Physical Disabilities (BBRSPDF) "Prof. Dr. Soeharso" Surakarta which is one of the Technical Service Units (UPT) of the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Social Affairs has monitored the implementation of BST distribution in Surakarta City since May 15, 2020, based on the BST distribution schedule in urban villages.

The Minister of Social Affairs in his speech thanked PT. Pos Indonesia which has done its best in distributing BST. "Hopefully the people pray for their hard work," said Juliari.

Furthermore, Juliari explained, "I went to Solo to see the distribution of cash social assistance firsthand, because the President always asked whether the aid had been distributed".

BST is a form of state presence in communities experiencing economic difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Juliari entrusted the Mayor of Surakarta, FX Hadi Rudyatmo and the Social Service of Central Java Province to oversee the distribution of this BST.

Mayor of Surakarta FX. In his speech, Hadi Rudyatmo advised BST recipients that the money they earned should be used for daily life, not to buy credit or cigarettes.

He also asked Surakarta residents to be ready to make peace with COVID-19 by wearing masks, washing hands, keeping your distance and avoiding crowds. "Once the vaccine is found, we have to fight COVID-19," he said.

Also attending on this occasion was the Director of PT. Pos Indonesia Gilarsi Wahyu Setijono, Mayor of Surakarta FX. Hadi Rudyatmo and Deputy Mayor Achmad Purnomo, Chairperson of the Surakarta City Council, Head of the Central Java Provincial Social Service, the Head of the Surakarta City Police, the Surakarta City Military District Commander and Surakarta City Muspida officials.