TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Minister of Villages, Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration, Abdul Halim Iskandar, has stated that COVID-19 affected village communities will receive Rp600,000 in cash transfers (BLT) per capita, distributed through the Village Funds, over the course of three months.

"This (aid) is very much needed by the community, especially since Ramadan is coming in the third week of April," Halim said in a press release, on Wednesday, April 15, 2020.

Halim explained that the cash transfers will be prioritized for villagers yet to receive any direct assistance from the government. Furthermore, the cash transfers will be ready for distribution through the village funds before the start of the fasting month, in order to accommodate the villagers’ needs during Ramadan.

“The cash transfers target underprivileged village residents that are not recipients of the Hopeful Family Program (PKH), who have not received food assistance, and who are not beneficiaries of the pre-employment card program,” he said.

As a result, Halim has urged village heads and regional governments to promptly list residents of the village community, considered to fulfill the criteria to receive the aid. The data collection process in Java is targeted to be completed in one or two days, so that funds can immediately be distributed.

ANTARA | Translator: DIO SUHENDA (Intern)