At the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, the Minister of Social Affairs Described 4 Key Steps to Overcome the Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Poor and Vulnerable Groups

PR84347

JAKARTA, Indonesia, June 11, 2020/Antara=KYODO JBN/--

In the presence of the ASEAN Minister, Social Minister Juliari P. Batubara

conveyed the government's important steps in handling the impact of the

Covid-19 pandemic, particularly for the poor and vulnerable groups. Indonesia

recommends the establishment of a comprehensive and sustainable social

protection system.

"To the ASEAN ministers, I convey comprehensive and quick steps of the

Indonesian government in handling the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the

context of the Ministry of Social Affairs' duties and functions, the government

has increased the index and expanded the social assistance, especially for the

poor and vulnerable groups, "said the Minister of Social Affairs Juliari after

the meeting (10/06).

The meeting was held online and opened by ASEAN Secretary General Dato ’Lim

Jock Hoi and attended by 10 ASEAN member Ministers dealing with social welfare issues.

In a meeting with the theme "Special Online Meeting of the ASEAN Ministerial

Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD) on Mitigating Impact of

COVID-19 on Vulnerable Groups in ASEAN", Social Minister Juliari acted as Chair

of the Indonesian Delegation.

On that occasion, the Minister of Social Affairs delivered four important steps

in mitigating the socio-economic impact of the pandemic, especially for the

poor and vulnerable groups. The first step is increasing the number and

coverage of social assistance and social safety nets, and the amount of

assistance for several social protection programs.

Second, strengthening government investment in the development of Integrated

Social Welfare Data (DTKS) and formulating an adaptive social protection

platform in accordance with the 2019-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan

(RPJMN) and Ministry of Social Affairs Strategic Plan 2020-2024. Then, the

fourth is the crucial role of social solidarity.

"The government continues to increase commitment and serious steps in dealing

with the impact of the pandemic. In the new (fourth) fiscal stimulus, the

government allocates a budget of Rp677.2 trillion, of which Rp203.9 trillion is

for social protection, "said the Minister.

This amount increased, compared to the third fiscal stimulus which amounted to

Rp405.1 trillion, which for social protection amounted to Rp110 trillion.

Social Minister explained, in order to deal with the impact of Covid-19, the

government increased the index and expanded the participation of regular social

assistance.

The Social Assistance of Hope Family Program (PKH) reaches 10 million of

Beneficiary Families (KPM). From the beginning KPM received benefits every

three months, now it becomes every month, starting in April-December 2020, so

that KPM PKH got a double benefit.

Then, in the Sembako Program (Non-Cash Food Aid / BPNT), the target expansion

and the increasing index is carried out, from 15.2 million KPM to 20 million

KPM, with an index from Rp 150 thousand to Rp 200 thousand.

The Ministry of Social Affairs also launched a non-regular social assistance

program namely the Presidential Assistance of Staple Food Package (Banpres) and

Cash Social Assistance (BST). Banpres began to be distributed to communities

affected by Covid-19 in DKI Jakarta, Bogor Regency, Tangerang City and South

Tangerang, Depok and Bekasi (Jabodetabek), on 20 April.

The Banpres reaches 1.9 million families (KK) with a value of Rp. 600,000

distributed twice a month, so the total value is around Rp. 3.4 trillion.

While BST, it reaches 9 million families outside Jabodetabek who have not

received the Family Hope Program (PKH) and the Sembako Program (Non-Cash Food

Assistance) with a value of Rp. 600,000 / KK / month. Both Banpres and BST, it

was distributed for three months-- April, May, and June 2020.

"With the latest stimulus of Rp. 677, 2 trillion, the government has extended

the assistance until December 2020," said the father of two children.

The Minister also stressed the importance of managing poverty data or

Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS), which is the basis for various social

assistances. "DTKS contains 40% of the lowest income people in Indonesia. And

with DTKS, it is very helpful in ensuring that social assistance is distributed

on target, "said the Minister.

SOURCE: Ministry of Social Affairs of Republic of Indonesia

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