JAKARTA - Social aid packages through the form of PKH (lit. Hope Family Program), started to be distributed since January 4, 2021.
The aid targets five segments of society, two of which are pregnant mothers and toddlers. Rahmat Kusnadi, Director of Family Social Security of the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs stated that there are a few goals the government intended to achieve through this program. "[The program] will play a role in preventing stunting and improving nutrients for toddlers and children," said Mr Kusnadi to Kompas.com, Thursday (14/1).
Four banks will be involved in distributing the aid, namely BNI, BRI, BTN, and Bank Mandiri. Total aid amounted to IDR 3 million throughout the year, disbursed four times, each IDR 750,000, in January, April, July, and October. Mr Kusnadi further explained that pregnant mothers can only be the recipient of this aid, on the condition that at most it was the mother's second pregnancy or having at most two toddlers below the age of six.
New Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini said, "PKH for 10 million family recipients will be disbursed in January with a budget of IDR 7.17 trillion". The other three segments were people with severe disabilities (IDR 2.4 million per year), elderlies (IDR 2.4 million per year), and school students (IDR 900,000 per year for elementary school students, IDR 1.5 million for middle school students, IDR 2 million for high school students). (AC)