"Apart from the problem in the distribution of social assistance, I notice that social assistance has played a major role in dealing with the pandemic by helping affected communities," research director of the Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Piter Abdullah explained during an online dialogue on 'Social Assistance in 2022', accessed from here on Thursday.
Abdullah expressed the hope that social assistance would be integrated and there would be a reduction in the number of citizens living in poverty.
It is also hoped that in 2022, social aid would provide protection to residents affected by the pandemic so that they can survive and live well, he added.
However, the role of social assistance in 2022 cannot be expected to boost the economy since the aim of social assistance is to provide protection, Abdullah pointed out.
He also called for better management of data on social assistance recipients to prevent problems in the distribution process in the future.
The Ministry of Social Affairs is set to continue providing social protection to citizens affected by the pandemic through regular social assistance in 2022, namely through the Family Hope Program (PKH) and Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT).
Since the pandemic broke out in 2020, the ministry has also distributed cash transfer funds (BST) to citizens affected by the pandemic, that is, those who lost jobs and were unable to do their activities due to restrictions imposed by the government to reduce COVID-19 spread.
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Translator: Desi Purnamawati, Raka Adji
Editor: Sri Haryati
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