T

he government plans to expand the number of non-cash food assistance program (BPNT) recipients from the current 1.2 million to 3.2 million households.

The government is assessing the preparedness of the e-warung (electronic shops), which are appointed to handle the distribution of staple foods in 24 regencies and cities, said Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani in Jakarta on Tuesday.

“One e-warung has to be able to serve 250 recipient households,” said Puan, adding that the government had set up e-warung in cooperation with the Association of State-owned Banks (Himbara).

Based on recent observations, the ministry has decided that the city of Solok in West Sumatra, Pangkal Pinang in Bangka Belitung Islands, among other cities and regencies, are ready to implement the BPNT scheme.

Puan said with the addition of 24 regencies and cities, the number of BPNT recipients will be up by 2 million households to 3.2 million.

The government also aims to shift its social aid for poor people from rice assistance (Rastra) to BPNT. At present, the government disburses Rastra to 14.3 million households and BPNT to 1.2 million households.

Under the BPNT scheme, recipients are eligible to get eggs and rice worth Rp 110,000 (US$ 8) per month. While the Rastra scheme allows recipients to get up to 10 kilograms of rice per month.