"The first (package of) essential commodities will be distributed in early April. The (packages of) April and May have been brought forward to April 21 (2022), while BPNT essential commodities and PKH will be combined with the cooking oil cash assistance," secretary general at the Social Affairs Ministry, Harry Hikmat, explained at the National Conference on the Fulfillment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities here on Tuesday.
Hikmat said that the cash assistance for buying cooking oil is Rp100 thousand. However, the assistance will be given once every month in April, May, and June, so the total assistance that will be distributed would be Rp300 thousand.
According to him, the cash assistance is planned to be distributed from April 4 to 21, 2022, along with BPNT and PKH. Thus, the total assistance that will be obtained by each of the beneficiaries is Rp500 thousand, Hikmat explained.
The total number of beneficiaries is 20.5 million. Of the beneficiaries, at least 18.8 million are recipients of essential commodities or BPNT, while the other 1.85 million are eligible to receive PKH, but not essential commodities.
Nevertheless, both groups have been included as recipients of cooking oil cash aid, Hikmat stated.
Related news: Gov't readies Rp6.9 trillion for cooking oil cash assistance
"The compensation is actually food assistance. Mr. President said it is cooking oil cash assistance, but it does not mean it must only be used for cooking oil. It depends on the needs of the people," he added.
According to him, the government will also provide cooking oil assistance to street vendors such as fried snack sellers. The cooking oil assistance for street vendors will be distributed by the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police who have the relevant data.
The cooking oil cash assistance is a form of government support for people who are experiencing rising prices due to the impact of global economic conditions and the period ahead of Eid al-Fitr.
Related news: Gov't to disburse Rp300,000 in cooking oil cash assistance
Translator: Hreeloita S, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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