E-Warungs Aimed at Improving Community Welfare: Minister
Jakarta. The government's cashless payment system is aimed at improving the welfare of local communities, Coordinating Human Development and Cultural Affairs Minister Puan Maharani said during the launch of 15 so-called e-warung outlets in Banyumanik, Semarang, Central Java, on Friday (28/10).
The e-warungs, which are not only for everyday transactions, enable the government to more efficiently distribute social assistance, ensuring that it reaches the poor.
"All forms of aid are distributed in cashless form. This enables the government to monitor whether the aid reaches the right target," Puan said.
The newly launched e-warung outlets serve recipients of government benefits under the Family of Hope Program (PKH) and Joint Business Group (KUBE). The financial aid will be transferred directly to recipients' bank accounts and they can use special cards, or e-wallets, to shop at e-warung outlets.
According to the minister, e-warungs are also a form of cooperation between society and the government to eradicate poverty.
"It is about how we join hands and put forward the values of integrity, hard work and mutual cooperation to solve our problems independently," she said.
These values are in line with the government's Mental Revolution, aimed at encouraging Indonesians to be more progress-oriented.
In addition, e-warungs are a means of attaining financial inclusion, because they give more people access to banking facilities.
Local communities also benefit from e-warungs because they provide lower prices for daily goods.
Banyumanik resident Sumiatri said she preferred buying rice at e-warungs because it only costs Rp 9,500 (70 US cents) per kilogram, compared to other shops, where it could cost more than Rp 10,000 per kilogram.
During the same event, Puan also directly handed out state assistance to the people of Banyumanik under different social programs, such as the PKH, KUBE, Livable Home Living Assistance (Rutilahu), Rice Social Assistance (Rastra), Healthy Society Movement (Germas) and Indonesia Smart Card (KIP).
She also handed out financial aid on behalf of the Mental Revolution Secretariat.
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