Getting Food from MoSA, Grandma Raniah: Thank you, It Is Delicious

 BREBES (11 August 2023)  – Beig unlucky persons were often experienced by the elderly and those with disabilities who live alone.  Inevitably, they experience neglect and starve to death without anyone knowing.

 Responding to this problem, since 2022 the Ministry of Social Affairs had rolled out a Food Program for the elderly and persons with disabilities.  In 2023, the assistance disbursed was IDR 787,661,312,000 and targeted 100,000 elderly recipients and 33,774 recipients with disabilities.

 One of the areas implementing the Food Program is in RT 02 RW 02, Kecipir Village, Losari District, Brebes Regency, Central Java, by collaborating with Jaya Bersama Community Group (Pokmas).

 "Initially, PKH companions in the sub-district were offered to help with the Ministry of Social Affairs programs, namely providing food for the elderly, and we accepted, as well as cooking catering for workers at a company in Kecipir Village,” said Saimran, Chairperson of Pokmas Jaya Bersama, Friday (11/8/2023).

 Assisted by four workers processing food for the elderly, they started shopping for vegetable ingredients after dawn prayer. They continued cooking and around 07.30 in the morning, the food was delivered by courier to the homes of each elderly.

 "Previously, we had a catering business for company's workers and when there was a food program from the Ministry of Social Affairs, they were ready to help.  It didn't take too long to cook 96 boxes of rice and at 07.30 a.m it was packed and ready to be delivered by two couriers divided into two regions," said Saimran.

 The elderly receive ready-to-eat meals 2 times a day worth IDR 30,000 with nutritional content consisting of rice, side dishes, vegetables, fruit, and mineral water.

 "Maintaining food hygiene packaged in safe boxes and not styrofoam delivered by couriers while the food is still warm and each recipient receives 2 boxes of rice in one delivery," he said.

 TKSK Companion of Losari District, Astin Setya, 30, stated that the recipients of the food program in Kecipir Village were 48 elderly who were divided into two delivery areas, north and south.

 “Food for the elderly is delivered by two couriers.  In the northern region, namely Rizki as many as 25 packages and in the south, namely Fauzi as many as 23 packages with a fairly remote road terrain, especially when it rains," said Astin.

 One of the beneficiaries of the food program, Raniah, 90, spoke haltingly of how happy she was to receive enough food for two times, breakfast and lunchtime.

 "Thank you for helping me.  The food is delicious,” said Raniah, in Brebesan Javanese, who served the community as a shaman for babies when she was young.

 The food program is one of the breakthroughs of the Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini in efforts to alleviate poverty and social protection to meet the basic needs of vulnerable groups such as the single elderly and those with disabilities.

Requirements for beneficiaries are single elderly aged at least 75 years and over as well as disabilities from the poor with (Population Identity Number)/NIK already registered in the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS).

Another benefit of the food program is that it fosters social solidarity and mutual cooperation because it embraces neighbors who are elderly and persons with disabilities, and fosters entrepreneurship because there is an economic cycle on Pokmas.