The assistance was distributed among 8 million beneficiary groups, in accordance with the target of 8 million.Jakarta (ANTARA) - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati revealed that the realization of village funds reached Rp61.28 trillion, or 85.23 percent of the ceiling of Rp71.9 trillion prescribed in the 2020 state budget, as of November 6, 2020.
The village fund budget was earmarked for social protection programs in the form of village funds for direct cash assistance (BLT) and village cash labor-intensive programs (PKTD), she said at an online working meeting with Commission IV of the House of Representatives (DPR) here on Monday.
The realized direct cash assistance reached Rp18.25 trillion, or 57.39 percent of the ceiling of Rp31.8 trillion, as of November 4, 2020, she informed.
Meanwhile, the realization of village cash labor-intensive program reached Rp10.03 trillion, or 27.55 percent of the ceiling of Rp36.4 trillion, she added.
The direct cash assistance was disbursed within nine months, she said adding, the assistance for each beneficiary group amounted to Rp600 thousand in each of the first three months and Rp300 thousand in each of the remaining six months.
"The assistance was distributed among 8 million beneficiary groups, in accordance with the target of 8 million," the minister said.
The beneficiary groups included farmers, farm workers, fishermen, factory workers, teachers, and micro, small, and medium traders.
Since the realization of direct cash assistance fell short of the target, the residual village funds for direct cash assistance will be used for the rural stimulus program, she said.
"(The funds will be used), among others, for the empowerment of village-owned corporate bodies (BUMDes) to boost the rural economy," she added.
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Translator: Astrid F/Suharto
Editor: Gusti Nur Cahya Aryani
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