By: Zakaria) *
Social assistance provided by the government since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic has been provided to communities affected by Corona. This type of assistance can be in the form of food packages or 600,000 rupiah. Unfortunately in the distribution of social assistance, there are diversions such as cutting funds or falsifying recipient data. They face punishment or fines.
Corona makes people miserable because their salaries are reduced even to the point of losing their jobs. To help the small people, the government immediately provides money or food packages. Distribution of social assistance is done through officials at the village or kelurahan level, because they hold population data.
But there are those who have the heart to misuse the social assistance fund. Officials in the village of Banpres, Musi Rawas Regency, South Sumatra, were proven to cut social assistance as much as 200,000 rupiah from 18 families, in return. He was also threatened with a fine starting from 200 million rupiah or a minimum prison sentence of 4 years. The bansos circumcision was regretted by the Minister of PDTT Village Abdul Halim.
Violations of social assistance not only done by individual village officials, but also the recipient. The Head of the East Barito Regency Social Affairs Office, Rusdianor stated that if there is evidence of falsification of data, then it must pay a fine of 50 million rupiah. This is stated in Law number 13 of 2011 concerning handling the poor.
Social assistance has also proven to be misused by incumbent officials. They want to be re-elected, then screen the bansos bag or plastic packaging with their face and name on it. Though the content of social assistance is not from personal money, but from the government. This violation occurred in many areas, ranging from Riau, Lampung, Cianjur, Gorontalo, to Papua.
The Executive Director of the Indonesian Public Institute, Karyono, stated that social assistance should be free from politicization. Persons who abuse them can also face severe penalties, even though they hold official status. Therefore, there needs to be supervision from the General Election Commission, Election Supervisory Body, and the Corruption Eradication Commission.
In addition to cutting money and politicizing Bansos, there are other cases such as uneven distribution of groceries, reduction of the scales from the contents of the package, and there is no transparency to the general public. So they are confused why they do not get help, even though it is categorized as poor. There have been 55 cases investigated by the Regional Police.
President Joko Widodo also instructed the National Police to directly apprehend social assistance violators. The first can be reminded, like a RT chief who finally returns social assistance funds and is unpunished. However, if there is already a bad intention from the corrupt official of social assistance for corruption, the National Police is allowed to act firmly.
The community is asked to participate in overseeing the process of channeling government social assistance. If there is fraud, it can be directly reported via email or WA number which will later be connected to the Ministry of Social account. When there are people who care, then the misappropriation of funds can be immediately dealt with and the social assistance given to those entitled.
Why should bansos deviants be punished severely, even getting a fine of 200 million to 1 billion rupiah? Because this is to cause a deterrent effect. When they are naughty and must be fined or jailed, they will not repeat their actions. Regional leaders or village officials in other places also do not imitate him, for fear of punishment.
Don’t take advantage of the position and then misuse the social assistance fund or give it to his immediate family. Currently the public cannot be fooled, and they can report to the authorities. The official must remember that there are severe penalties awaiting, if found guilty of circumcising aid funds.
Social assistance is aimed at disadvantaged communities. Therefore it cannot be circumcised even if only 50,000 rupiah. The incumbent should not politicize this social assistance for electability. Although he could only be dealt with 6 months later, he was also threatened with harsh punishment. Because taking advantage of opportunities in narrowness.
) * The author is a citizen living in Bogor
