So that underprivileged people will still be able to feel the joy in celebrating Eid al-Fitr, the government will provide social assistance.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government is disbursing 10 kilograms of rice assistance to 21 million underprivileged families to ease their spending ahead of Eid al-Fitr, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy has said.

"So that underprivileged people will still be able to feel the joy in celebrating Eid al-Fitr, the government is providing social assistance," he informed after attending a coordination meeting on the commemoration of Eid al-Fitr 1444 Hijri at the National Police’s headquarters here on Thursday.

The Islamic holy day is estimated to fall on April 22, 2023.

Meanwhile, regarding the preparations for traffic management during the Eid exodus period, the coordinating minister said that the government has decided on a tagline of “Safe and Memorable Homecoming.”

It has been estimated that the number of Eid al-Fitr homecoming travelers will surge this year, he noted.

A survey conducted by the Transportation Ministry has shown that 123.8 million people are projected to visit their hometowns during the period. In comparison, the number of travelers was recorded at just 85 million in 2022.

Hence, all related ministries and institutions should make preparations and plans to ensure good traffic management during the holiday period, Effendy said.

This would be in accordance with President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi’s) directive to all parties to prepare as well as possible to reduce accidents amid the holidays, he added.

He further noted that the President has instructed ministries and institutions to extend the 2023 Eid al-Fitr collective leave days from April 21–26 to April 19–25 to allow employees to have additional holidays.

The coordinating minister said that discounts on air travel and toll fares would be provided during the exodus period.

"Earlier, the PUPR (Public Works and Public Housing) Minister (Basuki Hadimuljono) said that a 20 percent discount would be given on D-5 and D-6 as well as on D+6 and H+7 (of Eid al-Fitr)," he added.

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Translator: Laily Rahmawaty, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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