Village Minister: Neighborhood Association Acts as Data Collection Basis for Cash Transfer Assistance Distribution

Infographic on Cash Transfer Assistance (BLT) sourced from the Village Fund Program. (Source: Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration)

Minister of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration Abdul Halim Iskandar has affirmed that the basis for data collection of Cash Transfer Assistance (BLT) sourced from the Village Fund Program is the Neighborhood Association (RT).

“I have often mentioned, three village volunteers are tasked to collect data of those affected by COVID-19 due to the loss of livelihoods,” the Minister told the press after a limited meeting on Tuesday (19/5).

The data, the Minister said, was then taken to a special village meeting to be verified and validated before taken to the regency for data synchronization.  The recipients must have not received assistance from Family Hope Program, non-cash food assistance, and Pre-Employment Card.

The Minister also acknowledged the slow process of data synchronization. “For example, 46,776 villages have conducted the special village meeting but only 14,326 villages have distributed the cash assistance,” he stated, adding that the Ministry will issue changes on the Minister of Village Regulation on the 2020 Village Fund to address BLT.

The Minister also went on to say that the BLT is a temporary measure to address COVID-19.

Due to the approaching Eid al-Fitr, the Ministry will simplify the synchronization process to accelerate the distribution process. “We will be assisted by public order officers (Bhabinkamtibmas) and supported by the village supervisory non-commissioned personnel (Babinsa) for the verification process.

“So, after the data has been verified during the meeting, we can double-check whether the recipients listed really have not yet received the social safety net of the state budget,” the Minister said.

“But, we still ask the regents/mayors to accelerate the distribution process based on the data validated during the special village meeting,” he concluded. (TGH/EN)

Translated by: Fairuzzamani Inayatillah
Reviewed by: Mia M. Bonaedy