The pandemic greatly impacts the institutions since the current amount of donations had been decreasing.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Social Affairs Ministry has suggested allocating Rp3.2 trillion to assist orphaned children, including those that lost their parents due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding will be offered by rediverting the ministry’s budget for physical development, Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini noted at a meeting with Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives here on Wednesday.

Rismaharini also remarked that around 15 to 16 thousand children had lost one or both their parents to COVID-19. Moreover, 4,043,622 orphans were being nurtured by social welfare institutions or underprivileged families.

The ministry plans to offer assistance to children that lost their parents due to COVID-19 for a four-month period, with Rp300 thousand per month for children, who are not yet in school, and Rp200 thousand per month for children already in school.

The assistance is expected to cover six thousand children that are not yet in school and 14 thousand children that are already in school.

Meanwhile, children cared for by Child Welfare Institutions (LKSAs) will receive Rp300 thousand per month for those not yet in school and Rp200 thousand per month for those already in school.

The aid is targeted to cover four thousand children that are not yet in school and 41 thousand children that are already in school.

"The pandemic greatly impacts the institutions since the current amount of donations had been decreasing," Rismaharini stated.

Furthermore, the minister noted that the government will help 3,978,622 orphans being nurtured by poor families. The assistance offered will be worth Rp200 thousand per month for four months.

Currently, the ministry is awaiting the local governments’ data on orphans eligible to receive assistance, the minister noted.

Moreover, Rismaharini encouraged Commission VIII of the House to support the allocation and realization of the orphans’ assistance budget.

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Translator: Devi Ramadhan, Uyu Liman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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