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New cards are first steps toward prosperity for all, says Jokowi
President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo has said that the distribution of various cards, such as the Indonesian Health Card (KIS) and Indonesian Smart Card (KIP), will help promote prosperity for all
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resident Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo has said that the distribution of various cards, such as the Indonesian Health Card (KIS) and Indonesian Smart Card (KIP), will help promote prosperity for all.
'This is just the first step,' he said as quoted Antara news agency during the launch of the KIS and KIP at the Central Jakarta Post Office on Monday.
Jokowi said that steps the government would take to improve the health of all Indonesians would include improving the quality of healthcare services at hospitals and community health centers (Puskesmas).
Up until the end of the year, he said, the distribution of the cards would cover 19 regencies and municipalities in nine provinces. The government would increase budgetary allocations for the non-cash assistance programs in the future so that people in all provinces could benefit from the programs.
'Please use these cards as much as possible,' said Jokowi at the event.
A number of ministers from Jokowi's Working Cabinet, such as Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani, Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa, and Culture and Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Anies Baswedan, attended the event.
Three new cards, including the Prosperous Family Saving Card (KKS), will be delivered to 15.5 million poor people.
National Team for Accelerating Poverty Reduction (TNP2K) executive secretary Bambang Widianto said that in the first stage, the government delivered KIP, KIS, and KKS as well as SIM cards to 1 million people.
'All of the programs mark a new era. People in the low-income bracket, through various activities, will be provided with saving accounts and support for sustainable access to education and healthcare coverage,' said Bambang.
He said that the KKS, given in the form of cash aid, aimed to provide people with wider access to the country's financial system to boost economic well-being.
'In the first step, the government distributed KIP to 157,943 school-age children from 1 million poor families,' said Bambang. For KIS, the government has distributed the cards to 4,451,508 individuals from 1 million poor families. (ebf)(++++)
