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140,000 Jakarta families enjoy food subsidy program
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo delivers a speech during the symbolic distribution of the Prosperous Family Card (KKS) in Cibubur, East Jakarta, on Feb. 23. (JP/Anton Hermansyah)
T
hree months into the implementation of the government’s on-cash food subsidy program (BPNT) for low-income families, 141,725 families in Jakarta are participating in the program.
The number represents 66.15 percent of 214,249 beneficiary families across the capital.
Acting Jakarta governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat said with BPNT-issued cards, called Prosperous Family Card (KKS), its beneficiary families could buy quality rice and sugar.
“Each KKS holder is allocated Rp 110,000 (US$8.25) a month to buy 10 kilograms of rice priced at Rp 85,000 and 2-kg of sugar at Rp 25,000,” he said.
BPNT's subsidy system makes it hard for beneficiaries to misuse the funds, as purchases made with KKS cards are tracked. Furthermore, the cards can only be used to buy staple foods.
Meanwhile, Jakarta Social Agency head Masrokhan said BPNT was one of the keys to eradicating poverty in the capital.
“KKS holders are Jakarta’s poor families who can use the cards to buy food at an e-warung or bank agent,” he said. (dea)
