No More Cash Withdrawals With Jakarta Smart Card, Says Basuki
Jakarta. Recipients of the capital's school assistance funding scheme can no longer withdraw cash with their Jakarta Smart Card, following reports of students and parents using funds to buy luxury goods and non-school-related items.
City-owned lender Bank DKI has stopped allowing holders of the Jakarta Smart Card (KJP) from withdrawing the weekly money provided by the government at its ATM machines to avoid abuse, said Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama.
"You can't withdraw cash with KJP cards at all now. And we have told stores that are not selling school supplies to stop accepting KJP cards," he said.
"We want the KJP to be truly for the children's education; not for their parents to steal."
Basuki underlined the dangers of parents spending the funds on daily needs.
"We understand that sometimes a father is tempted to use his children's money if he has none of his own. But if he keeps using KJP money, his children will become victims," he said.
"We want to save children from dropping out of school. They are the family's future; that's the idea."
This year, the city has earmarked Rp 2.2 trillion ($156.6 million) for the KJP program, catering to 489,150 recipients.
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