Gov’t Extends Social Assistance Program to 2021

Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara during his working visit in Central Java, Friday (21/11). (Photo by: Ministry of Social Affairs PR)

In a bid to provide facilities for beneficiary families who have not received cash social assistance, Ministry of Social Affairs has extended the Cash Social Assistance (BST) program until 2021.

“I urge relevant parties to revalidate the data of social assistance recipients so they do not receive the assistance more than once since there are still many people need it,” Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara stated as published in kemsos.go.id, Friday (20/11).

The extension of cash assistance program targeting 10 million beneficiary families in 34 provinces aims to maintain national economic recovery. The allocated budget for the program reaches Rp12 trillion.

In addition to the program, Ministry of Social Affairs also extended the staple food assistance program for 18.8 million beneficiary families, with allocated budget of Rp45.12 trillion.

The extension of social assistance program shows the Government’s commitment to help underprivileged citizens to meet their basic needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Ministry of Social Affairs always makes every effort to ease the burden of the people affected by COVID-19 pandemic” Juliari said.

Furthermore, the Minister invited those who affected by the pandemic and never receive any social assistance to register themselves to the local government. “Please come to social affairs agencies for registration,” he said, adding that the data obtained will be the basis to adjust the assistance whether it is in cash or non-cash. (Ministry of Social Affairs PR/UN) (GWH/MMB)