Jakarta, InfoPublik—President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said that in order to encourage economic growth and increase people's purchasing power, social assistance (Bansos) must be distributed to beneficiaries in January 2021.

"We want to emphasize that social assistance must be distributed starting in January, to trigger the economic growth, "said President Jokowi at the 2021 Social Assistance Distribution Preparation Meeting at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (29/12).

He explained that the social assistance that was previously provided in the form of packages of staple food will be replaced by cash distributed by post or bank transfer to the recipients’ savings bank account.

"The aid will not be distributed in the form of packages of staple goods, we have decided to cash it by post or bank, and it should not be delayed to boost economic growth and household consumption community. We want this to generate demand," the President explained.

Furthermore, the President said, aid recipients data must have been completed by then by involving local governments to ensure that the distribution is right on target.

"Recipient data must be clear so that it is right on target. Involve the regions in improving the data, "he said.

He reminded that no deductions are allowed to be made on the aid distributed. "I have stated this repeatedly, no more deductions are allowed. Do distribute all to the beneficiaries’ accounts. This is why we need integrated data of aid beneficiaries and the banking system," he concluded.

(Reporter: Wawan Budiyanto, Translator: Penni P. Rusman)