"Regarding social assistance, both the Family Hope Program (PKH) and others, plus cooking oil BLT to be distributed as soon as possible before Eid al-Fitr or this week would be better," he said during a Plenary Cabinet Session at the State Palace on Wednesday.
The cash assistance of Rp300 thousand would be meaningful to the community, especially during Ramadan and ahead of Eid al-Fitr, he added. The money can be used by the community to buy cooking oil and various other basic commodities.
"Maybe we do not feel it, but this Rp300 thousand is useful for the people. It feels nice for them to be able to buy cooking oil and other basic ingredients," Jokowi said.
In addition, the President also said that labor-intensive programs should continue to provide job opportunities for the community.
Related news: Jokowi seeks prompt action, sympathetic statements from ministers
Earlier, the head of state had announced the distribution of BLT cooking oil worth Rp100 thousand per month per beneficiary family (KPM). The BLT is meant for the months of April, May, and June 2022. However, the payment will be made all at once in April and will amount to Rp300 thousand.
The Finance Ministry has prepared a budget of Rp6.9 trillion for the cooking oil BLT distribution.
The cooking oil BLT is targeted at 23 million people. Specifically, it will be provided to 20.5 million families who are included in the list of recipients of Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) and the Family Hope Program (PKH), as well as 2.5 million Street Vendors (PKL).
The recipients of the cooking oil BLT will be people who are registered in the Social Welfare Integrated Data (DTKS) of the Ministry of Social Affairs. DTKS is a database synchronized with the verified identity number (NIK).
Related news: Cooking oil, BPNT, PKH aid to be provided together: ministry
Translator: Indra Arief P, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
