Jakarta (ANTARA) - Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini (Risma) confirmed that a person residing in an elite area of Menteng, Central Jakarta, had incorrectly received social assistance.

"That resident, who received the social aid, has a mansion that stood in an area of more than one hundred square meters in Menteng," the minister remarked during a press conference at the Ministry of Social Affairs Building here on Thursday.

Drawing attention to the Social Affairs Ministry's regulation, Risma explained that a house of that size was not entitled for social assistance in addition to the recipient living in the upper-class Menteng area.

According to Risma, apart from owning a house of one hundred square meters, those receiving regular income from the government too were not eligible to receive social aid.

To tackle this problem, the minister noted that her team will submit the findings to the local government for re-examination and follow-up.

Related news: Ministry prepares nine eligibility criteria for social aid recipients

The ministry will also update its data periodically to improve the accuracy of aid beneficiaries. Furthermore, it will conduct a matching procedure on the recipients' national identity number (NIK) registered in the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registry of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

"We continue to improve and rely heavily on the local government," Risma added.

Earlier, the minister noted that 31 thousand state civil apparatus (ASN) were indicated to receive social assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs both in the form of Family Hope Recipient Program (PKH) and Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT).

"We have submitted the data to National Civil Service Agency (BKN) that 31,624 ASNs have been indicated to receive social aid," she expounded.

Risma revealed that the data was obtained during a data verification on social aid beneficiaries conducted every now and then. Of the 31 thousand, 28,965 people are active civil servants while the rest are retirees, who are ineligible for receiving social assistance.

Related news: Some 31 thousand civil servants indicated to receive social assistance

Translator: Asep F, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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