Gov’t to Raise Veterans’ Monthly Allowance

President Jokowi attends the closing ceremony of the 11th Congress of the Legion of Veterans of the Republic of Indonesia 2017 at Borobudur Hotel, Jakarta, Thursday (19/10) (Photo by: Public Relations Division/Jay)

As a token of appreciation for the struggles of veterans in this country, starting January 2018 the Government will increase monthly allowance for veterans by 25 percent.

In addition, through Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, the Government will also renovate 765 veterans’ houses, and 400 houses will be renovated by Ministry of State-owned Enterprises.

“In 2014, we raised allowance for veterans by 16 percent. Today, I had a meeting with Minister of Finance and we decided that the allowance for veterans will be raised by 25% starting January 2018,” President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said during the closing ceremony of the 11^th Congress of the Legion of Veterans of the Republic of Indonesia 2017 at Borobudur Hotel, Jakarta, Thursday (19/10).

President Jokowi explained that it is time for allowance for veterans to be raised and the Government has had meeting on this issue in the past few days.

In the meantime, regarding renovation of veterans’ houses, the President said 765 houses will be renovated by Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing and 585 other houses are still in the process.

President Jokowi also asked Legions of the Veterans to immediately prepare 400 names of veterans whose houses will be renovated by Ministry of State-owned Enterprises, apart from 765 houses to be renovated by Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing. “Some will be handled by Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, some will be handled by Ministry of State-owned Enterprises. I believe the two ministries will do it fast and we will indeed begin immediately,”President Jokowi said.

Also attending the event were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) General Gatot Nurmantyo, Minister of Defense Ryamizard Ryacudu, and Minister of State Secretary Pratikno. (RMI/JAY/ES)(EP/YM/Naster)