"We are still discussing a program to help those orphaned either due to COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 reasons. This is in accordance with the mandate of the 1945 Constitution that poor and neglected children be looked after by the state," the minister remarked at an online press conference on the Financial Note and the 2022 State Budget Draft here on Monday.
According to Rismaharini, the plan is currently under discussion with the Ministry of Finance and the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas). However, Rismaharini confirmed that Finance Minister Sri Mulyani had signaled approval to the program, whose projected launch was no later than 2022.
The minister noted that the government was formulating apposite budget disbursal for children, who had lost their parents.
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According to Rismaharini, her side will conduct tracing through the family card to obtain details of who was currently tending to the orphan. If they are being cared for by a foundation, then the special social aid will be distributed to the foundation.
"We can trace it by using the population data, for instance, the father's brother. However, if the child is being cared for by a foundation or social institution, then we have to find the right rules to accommodate it," she noted.
Rismaharini stated that in 2022, she will also continue to update the data on social aid recipients every month to adjust for changes that occur, such as deaths, address change, and financial circumstances.
Moreover, the minister has prepared an application for rebuttal proposals as a forum for people looking to propose the names of citizens eligible to receive social aid or cancel the provision of social aid for those not meeting the criteria to receive the aid.
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Translator: Sanya Dinda, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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