CITIZEN JOURNALISM

The information is confusing regarding the type and amount of social assistance received by KPM

By Hijrah Lahaling

That afternoon, Friday (06/08/2021), we, the team implementing the Sipkumham Application, went to North Gorontalo Regency (Gorut), with the aim of collecting data related to the implementation of social assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic in all districts/cities of Gorontalo Province. I and 2 other team members were assigned to collect data at the Gorut Regency Social Service. We hope that before leaving, we can easily get the data we need, especially if we are equipped with an assignment letter from the institution.

We departed at 07.30 from Gorontalo City, and arrived at our destination at 09.00 WITA. We immediately met the staff in the waiting room, while asking about the data request letter as well as the audience with the Head of the Gorut Regency Social Service.

While waiting for news from the staff we met, I noticed his movements as if he was confused looking for a letter that had been sent previously. Going in and out of a room that we didn't know what room it was. Finally I asked again, about what happened to our letter and whether we can meet the Kadis yet? The staff answered oh yes ma'am, while it is being prepared and what data do you need? Our team looked at each other and smiled a little, in my heart I was muttering, a sign that our letter had not been read.

We waited for approximately 1 hour, our time was wasted, especially on Friday, men would rush to perform Friday prayers. Suddenly I saw a man wearing sports clothes come out of a room who was being escorted by a man carrying a bag towards a car that was about to rush away. I also said to the team, it looks like the man is the Head of the Department, we should go after him and say hello.

"Sir, sorry, we from the Regional Office for Law and Human Rights of Gorontalo Province would like to meet with you," said Mr. Bintang, one of the team from the Regional Office for Law and Human Rights. And his father answered, "Oh yeah, it's been a while, right? Actually, I was about to go back home to get ready for the mosque." And finally Mr Kadis was willing to be interviewed by us even though we had limited time and a place where we had been waiting for a long time.

I then began to convey the aims and objectives of our visit, while introducing that I had been entrusted as a research team from academic elements by the Regional Office of Law and Human Rights. After listening to the aims and objectives, Mr Kadis summoned one of the employees who he thought knew best about data on social assistance recipients.

While waiting for the data we needed to be prepared, I started asking the Head of the Gorut Social Service, Mr. Marzuki Pulumoduyo, about the extent of the implementation of social assistance in your area. Starting with what social assistance is distributed, what type and who the target recipients are.

"For Gorut Regency, we continue to refer to the Gorontalo Governor's Regulation No. 10 of 2020, namely in the form of Regional Direct Food Assistance (BLPD), which is given to Beneficiary Families (KPM). There is also Cash Social Assistance (BST). The assistance given is in the form of cash which is directly transferred to people's accounts. The money is spent on basic necessities at designated stalls, and we as the government monitor to ensure whether the money is actually spent on basic necessities in accordance with what was intended. has been determined," he said.

"The number of social assistance recipients in North Gorontalo District is 2,622 families, with the types of social assistance received in the form of basic necessities, namely rice, eggs, cooking oil, ant sugar, and also fish. The target is all communities affected by Covid-19," he added.

Meanwhile, there are people who complain about the social assistance they receive. "The only social assistance I receive is Village Fund BLT, there are no other social assistance, while there are my neighbors who receive up to 3 types of social assistance, Basic Food, Village Fund BLT and BST," said Sartin Mantulangi (68 years), a resident of Titudu Village, Kwandang District, Gorut, who works as a cake seller every day.

Not to mention a housewife (IRT), Kunino Potale (68 years), who only received basic food assistance in the form of 10 kg of rice. "I only received 10 kg of rice," he added.

Apart from Gorut, it turns out that in Gorontalo City there is also confusion regarding the type of social assistance being distributed. As experienced by Hauria Lamato (67 years), a resident of Jalan Membramo, Sipatana District. "The assistance I received included basic necessities, Village Fund BLT, and Free Electricity. The basic necessities included 3 kg of rice, 1 kg of granulated sugar, 1 bottle of coconut oil, 10 chicken eggs, 1 can of milk, 1 kg of red and white onions, 1 kg of fish. For BLT I received IDR 300,000 for 3 months." said Hauria's mother.

"I received basic food assistance, in the form of 10 kg of rice, 1 kg of granulated sugar, 1 liter of cooking oil, and 1 shelf of chicken eggs," added Poulimo (45 years old), a resident of Kayumerah Village, Gorontalo Regency.

Apart from conflicting information from the people who receive social assistance, information from the Social Services, both Regency, City and Gorontalo Province, is also unclear and varied. Including regarding implementing Covid-19 social assistance, some say that the Social Service and Food Service are responsible for the distribution of social assistance, there are also those who say that the Ministry of Social Affairs, Provincial Government, Cooperative Service,  Directorate General of Social Protection and Security and the Directorate General for Handling the Poverty, are responsible for social assistance during Covid-19.