I hope that all the social protection fund, which has been disbursed from the APBN, will really benefit those who are in need and not be corrupted.
Malang, E Java (ANTARA) - The Finance Ministry has set aside Rp476 trillion in the 2023 State Budget (APBN) for the social protection of poor and vulnerable people to expedite poverty alleviation, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has informed.

"The budget for social protection in the 2023 State Budget is Rp476 trillion. I and the Social Affairs Minister (Tri Rismaharini) will see which Social Affairs Ministry’s programs that truly generate concrete results, (will need) to be maintained and carried out," she said here on Friday.

The amount of the social protection budget in 2023 is not much different from the allocation made in the previous year, she noted.

However, the social protection budget for 2023 has different components compared to 2022.

The minister said that in 2022, the pandemic situation in Indonesia was still quite unfavorable and there was disruption in domestic cooking oil prices and supply.

Hence, the government disbursed several kinds of social aid throughout 2022, including cooking oil assistance, wage subsidy, as well as financial assistance for street vendors, she added.

Considering the improved COVID-19 situation as well as the stable price and supply of cooking oil currently, the aid program implemented in 2022 will be adjusted this year.

"Thus, there are several budgets (for social programs) that will be discontinued in 2022. The program carried out in 2022 will be redesigned later, depending on respective ministries and institutions," Indrawati informed.

During a working visit to Malang district, the finance minister and Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini met several beneficiary families (KPM) of a number of Social Affairs Ministry’s programs.

They also handed over assistance to the beneficiaries of the Nusantara Economic Heroes Program (PENA), Integrated Prosperous Homes (RST), Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) for People with Disabilities, ATENSI for Orphans, as well as Food for Elderly and Disabled People Program."I hope that all the social protection fund, which has been disbursed from the APBN, will really benefit those who are in need and not be corrupted," Indrawati added.



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Translator: Vicki Febrianto, Uyu Liman
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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