By: Syafruddin )*
Social Assistance (Bansos) is given by the government to the people who need it. In the Covid-19 pandemic, indeed more and more unemployed, they lost their jobs due to the closure of the factory. Social aid in the form of food or cash helps them to survive.
Corona disease makes all sectors in Indonesia collapse, especially in the economy. Many small traders complain about the lack of buyers. Since there is a policy to stay at home, there are very few people on the streets. So it is with construction workers. They were forced to lose their jobs because many projects were stopped, because they could potentially violate social distancing and PSBB rules.
This condition makes people scream and the number of poor people increases. The government immediately acted swiftly and Since the beginning of april 2020, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has taken the initiative to provide social assistance to disadvantaged people. The package contained rice, sardines, cooking oil, masks, and several other items.
The central government also began distributing social assistance to the community since late April 2020. This social assistance package is not only for residents in Greater Jakarta, but also outside the city and even outside the island. For sending social assistance outside the island, there is already assistance from an shipping company, so it is certain to arrive on time.
There are several types of social assistance provided by the government, not only in the form of basic needs. Among them, cash social assistance, family hope program, non-cash food assistance, food packages from the local government, and direct cash assistance taken from village funds. So it’s not just rice, but there is also cash.
The assistance was given directly to the community, and it is planned that as many as 10 million social assistance packages will be distributed. Those who get it are underprivileged people whose criteria are in accordance with existing data in the village or kelurahan office. These people can take it directly by bringing their KTP. but there are also government officials who give it directly to people in need.
In addition to assistance in the form of groceries, there is also direct cash assistance worth 600,000 rupiah which is transferred directly to the account. This program works with a state-owned bank. So people do not need to queue, but can immediately enjoy it.
The people who are entitled to the assistance have been thoroughly researched to make it right on target. They really need it, not the rich. If there is stray assistance, they are expected to return it to government officials and the social assistance will be given again to people who are truly less well off. Because there are several types of assistance, it is certain that 1 person may not receive more than 1 type of social assistance. The goal is to be fair and that more people will benefit from the social assistance.
This social assistance was really well received by the community. They feel relieved because they feel cared for by the government. Social service staples containing food supplies greatly ease the burden on the community, because the price of rice is quite high. They are also happy because if they get social assistance in the form of money, they can buy groceries and other necessities.
The government also hopes that people who receive social assistance use it wisely. Bansos in the form of staple foods should not be sold anymore. Likewise with social assistance in the form of cash, must be bought rice and other basic needs. Don’t even buy things like clothes and other consumer goods.
Social assistance from the government in the form of food or cash is very well received by the community. They are happy because the burden has been lifted a little, because since the Covid-19 pandemic more and more people have been categorized as less able. This social assistance is expected to be right on target and to be used as well as possible.
)* The author is a student of IAIN Kendari