BATAM (May 11, 2023) - The Ministry of Social Affairs distributed social assistance at the Batam Center Post Office, Batam City, Riau Islands Province, Thursday (11/5). The distribution of social assistance coincided with the working visit of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives during the Recess of Session Period IV of the 2022-2023 Session Year.

The distribution of assistance follows up on the direction of the Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini, when social problems are found so that the ranks of the Ministry of Social Affairs in the local work area can immediately help.

The assistance was symbolically handed over to 5 recipients of the Family Hope Program (PKH), 5 recipients of Basic Food Social Assistance and 10 recipients of Attention Assistance by the head of the group of members of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Maman Imanul Haq together with members accompanied by the Director of Community Empowerment of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Arif Nahari.

Assistance of IDR45.46 billion

In the Riau Islands Province, the total assistance distributed by the Ministry of Social Affairs was IDR 45.46 billion.

"Before providing assistance, we conducted a comprehensive assessment. The assessment was carried out so that the program implemented is effective and on target," said Arif Nahari.

The assistance consists of PKH assistance throughout the Riau Islands province Phase II which was distributed to 44,041 KPM through Himbara and PT.Pos.

Then the Social Assistance for Basic Foodstuffs throughout the Riau Islands province in the Second Quarter was given to 64,251 KPM through Himbara and PT. Pos.

For Atensi assistance, it was given in the form of 85 packages of basic needs and nutrition for children, and 30 packages of adaptive cane accessibility aids, hearing aids and children's wheelchairs.

For the category of disaster and emergency victims, 21 beneficiaries received glasses and standard wheelchairs. For the category of disabilities, 17 beneficiaries received hearing aids and standard wheelchairs.

For the elderly category, 9 beneficiaries received standard wheelchairs, 3 in 1 wheelchairs and glasses.

In his speech, Maman Imanul Haq stated that Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives provided support to programs of the Ministry of Social Affairs.

"The transparent distribution pattern of PKH Social Assistance and so on from the Ministry of Social Affairs is a kind of indicator that the state is continuously present in poverty alleviation," said Maman.

Maman added that in the era of the leadership of Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini, his party can be contacted for 24 hours because the Minister of Social Affairs wants Indonesia to progress. "The progress of a country is seen from how it eradicates poverty," continued Maman.

Support is also provided to improve the quality of the Ministry of Social Affairs program, so that it does not only provide physical assistance, but also helps beneficiaries to be independent through empowerment in various business fields.

Collaborative efforts are also important things conveyed by Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives. "Data issues are also very important to pay attention to. This is not only the responsibility of the Ministry of Social Affairs but also the regions so that there must be collaborative efforts in validating data before rolling out assistance," he concluded.

The Ministry of Social Affairs will also carry out structured collaboration with regions and social assistants such as PKH and TKSK assistants so that data problems do not become obstacles in the accuracy of social assistance distribution.

One of the beneficiaries of Atensi assistance, Nurdiah (61) who suffers from a complicated disease, unable to walk, admitted that she was grateful to receive the wheelchair assistance.

"Previously I couldn't go out, I just lay at home, but after I got the wheelchair, I can go out and it's easy when I go to the doctor without having to be helped," said Nurdiah.

A similar thing was conveyed by Haikal (10) who received an adaptive cane for the first time. He admitted that he was happy with the assistance because it made it easier for him to walk without having to be guided by his mother.

Also present on this working visit were Members of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, the Mayor of Batam represented by the Regional Secretary of Batam City Jefridin Hamid, Deputy EVP Regional I PT Pos Indonesia Ferdiyan Syahputra, Head of the BRI Batam Center Branch Ucok Rajab Pohan, Officials of the Riau Islands Province Social Service, Representatives of the Batam City Government, Secretary of the Batam City Social Service, social assistants, and representatives of social assistance beneficiaries.

Public Relations Bureau
Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia