By : Gina
( Gunadarma University Postgraduate Student )
Policy of the government related to Application Enabling Activity Restriction Society (PPKM) Level 2-4 rated by a number of parties as a step that is appropriate . Moreover , this policy is accompanied by the provision of social assistance ( Bansos ) to people most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic .
The government has decided to extend the Implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) Level 2-4 in Java-Bali until August 16. Meanwhile, PPKM outside Java and Bali has been extended for two weeks until August 23, 2021.
The government’s move to extend the PPKM is considered appropriate. This is because the number of Covid-19 cases is still quite high. D ata daily per additional case Tuesday, August 10th, is still quite high, ie as many as 32 081 new cases. Likewise, the number of deaths due to Covid-19 increased by 2,048 cases in a day. Of course , this will be very dangerous if PPKM is not extended .
However, the PPKM extension policy must be accompanied by the provision of Social Assistance ( Bansos ) and subsidies for affected communities . Because the t id ak undeniable that PPKM impact is not good for the economy. Therefore, during the p erpanjangan PPKM , government incentive to pour different types of B Ansos to massyarakat .
Chairman of the Management Committee Covid-19 and National Economic Recovery Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs at the same time , Airlangga Hartanto said implementation of the program B Ansos part a new addition, the Family Hope Program ( PKH ) in July which had been realized Rp5,15 trillion by the number of total recipients 7.44 million KPM ( Beneficiary Families ). Meanwhile, the basic food cards in July were Rp 9.4 trillion for 15.67 million KPM.
Meanwhile , other social assistances are also being realized by the government. A series of program B Ansos such as direct cash assistance (BLT) is guaranteed by the government will be continued this year. The decision was taken in view of the extension of the PPKM level in a number of regions .
Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati has confirmed that the government’s support policy in dealing with Covid- 19 consists of various social protection policies. First , there is the Family Hope Program which targets 10 million people or families , consisting of pregnant women, early childhood, having children at elementary, junior high, high school age or having family members with disabilities or the elderly. Then there were 18.9 million families in the form of basic food cards of Rp. 200,000 per month which were given an additional Rp. 400,000 in July and August , as Covid-19 cases increased.
The next aid continued by the government is subsidized electricity tariffs. The electricity discount for 32.6 million households was officially extended, which was previously planned to end in September. For households with 450 VA, a 50 percent discount is given for the period from April to December. Meanwhile, for 900 VA get a discount of 25 percent from April to December.
The BLT social assistance wage or salary subsidy is provided through the Pre-Employment Card to 5.6 million people, with the addition of one-time wage subsidy assistance to 9.1 million recipients for incomes below 3 million. In addition, the government also provides Bulog rice assistance to the community .
With the various types of assistance that have been provided by the government during the PPKM period, the community should be disciplined and obedient to the policies for handling the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, the cooperation of all elements of the nation in the face of a viral outbreak corona is needed , and this time the policy PPKM and Prokes who are considered the most effective in lowering the positive cases Covid-19 in Java and Bali , as well as other areas in Indonesia . For this reason , the public must be optimistic that the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia can end soon . ()
