5 Jokowi Govt's Social Assistance Program Ahead of the Election

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi continues to disburse social assistance (bansos) in various programs ahead of the general elections in February 2024. Most recently, he introduced cash assistance (BLT) for food risk mitigation.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said this year’s budget for social aid would reach Rp496 trillion, up 20 percent from last year's Rp476 trillion.

“My point is, these numbers Rp476 trillion and Rp496 trillion are noted in the APBN (State Budget) law, initiated by the government, discussed by the DPR (House of Representatives) and enacted,” Sri said in a press conference of the Financial System Stability Committee (KSSK) monitored online on Tuesday, January 30.

The massive disbursement of social aid has sparked speculation that it is being politicized to support the President's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is running for vice president alongside Prabowo Subianto. They are competing against Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md.

Here is a list of the social assistance disbursed ahead of the presidential election on February 15, 2024:

1. Food Risk Mitigation BLT 

On Monday, January 29, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto announced that the government would distribute cash assistance called Food Risk Mitigation BLT amounting to Rp11.35 trillion for 18.8 million families.

The latest assistance, which is claimed to be a replacement for the El Nino BLT, will be disbursed for three months in January-March at Rp200,000 per month per family. However, there will be a one-time distribution in February.

2. Rice Assistance

Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan confirmed on Nov. 6, 2023, that the government decided to extend the rice aid program until June 2024. The aid had been distributed to 22 million families as of November 2023.

3. Family Hope Program (PKH)

Jokowi also instructed the regular social aid program, including the Family Hope Program (PKH), to be distributed in several stages throughout 2024. The first three months will be distributed in early February, as announced via the national website Indonesia.go.id on January 17.

The program targets households with pregnant women, postpartum mothers, children enrolled in school, disabled people, and the elderly. The aid starts from Rp375,000 to Rp750,000 per stage or Rp1,500,000 to Rp3,000,000 per year.

4. Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT)

Other regular social assistance is dubbed Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT). The program provides Rp200,000 per month to eligible beneficiaries registered in the Ministry of Social Affairs' Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS), which is disbursed every two months.

5. Compensation aid for farmer 

President Jokowi provided social assistance to farmers who had failed harvests in Grobogan, Central Java on Friday, January 23, as well as those whose land had been affected by flooding. Since last year, he claimed he had instructed the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) to hand over cash assistance of Rp123 million, Rp180 million, to Rp200 million.

MELYNDA DWI PUSPITA 

Editor's Choice: Jokowi Denies Politicizing Social Assistance for Prabowo-Gibran

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