Gov’t Distributes 2,010 Tons of Rice for Informal Workers Affected by Emergency PPKM

Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini (Photo by: Cabinet Secretariat PR)

Ministry of Social Affairs has prepared a total of 2,010 tons of rice for informal sector workers affected by Java-Bali Emergency Activity Restrictions (PPKM Darurat).

“The data on the recipients of five kilograms of rice was proposed by the regional governments. They are people affected by the pandemic and are not registered as recipients of three types of social assistance, namely the Family Hope Program (PKH), Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) or Staple Food Card Program, and Cash Social Assistance (BST),” Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini said in Jakarta, Sunday (18/7).

A total of 122 regency/municipal governments each received 3,000 packages of rice and the six provincial capitals received 6,000 packages, she said. “Later, the distribution will also be carried out by the social service or other elements of the regional governments,” she added.

Risma stated that the recipients of this assistance are the affected food stall owners, street vendors, motorcycle taxi drivers, casual laborers, day laborers, contract employees, and others.

In addition to this rice assistance, the Ministry is also partnering with State Logistics Agency (Perum Bulog) to distribute rice to 10 million PKH beneficiaries and 10 million BST beneficiaries. Each beneficiary will receive ten kilograms of rice, she added.

“Perum Bulog distributes the rice, while Ministry of Social Affairs only sends the data of the recipients to Ministry of Finance. The total volume of rice from Perum Bulog reaches 200 million kilograms,” the Minister said.

Risma also stated that the rice assistance from Perum Bulog is distributed on a national scale in accordance with the domicile of the PKH and BST beneficiaries. “With the rice assistance, it is expected that the assistance will fulfill some of the basic needs of the beneficiaries affected by the pandemic,” she added.

On the implementation of social protection programs, the Ministry also optimized regular social assistance, such as PKH, BPNT, and BST.

The phase three of PKH assistance (July-August-September) will be disbursed in July 2021 while BST assistance of May-June will be disbursed in July for 10 million beneficiaries. In addition, 18.8 million BPNT or staple food card beneficiaries will receive two additional months of assistance apart from the 12 months already budgeted, namely in July-August.

“We hope that the assistance will increase people’s purchasing power,” she said. (PR of Ministry of Social Affairs/UN)(FI/MUR)