Long Lines and Staying Overnight for Rp 1.2 Million Cash Aid

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Residents queue to take the disbursement form before opening the counter for direct cash transfers for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) at the Pajajaran Sports Hall complex, Bogor City, West Java, Wednesday (21/4/2021).

It was 2.30 in the early morning and Ema (64), a resident of Situ Gede, Bubulak, West Bogor, Bogor City, would have to wait seven and a half more hours for the line to start forming for the disbursement of the second batch of the government’s direct cash assistance worth Rp 1.2 million (about US$85).

The rain had just stopped earlier in the morning that Thursday (22/4/2021). Wrapped in a jacket, Ema lied on the terrace of the Pajajaran Sports Hall, Bogor City, West Java. She was just about to fall asleep when a security guard approached her asking for documents needed to get the government’s cash aid or BLT. The aid was part of the financial assistance provided by the Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Ministry to small businesses.

It took a few days for Ema to obtain the required documents to be able to obtain the cash aid. She actually arrived at the sports hall on 8 o’clock in the morning on Monday. There was a long line. After waiting for nearly three hours, she decided to go home because the quota of 500 people per day had been met.

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The next day, on Tuesday, after standing for more than two hours, Ema found out that she had entered the wrong line. Ema should have entered the line for taking the form and queue number first. However, because she did not receive clear information amid the large crowds, Ema was confused. She instead waited in the line for the residents who had brought completed documents and had obtained queue numbers. Ema again went home empty-handed.

The mother of three hoped the next day she would be able to go home with the cash. At 10.30 at night on Wednesday, she had already arrived at the sports hall, with a small bag filled with drinks and food. She planned to stay overnight so that by Thursday morning , she would receive the money.

"I need this cash aid. It\'s OK for me to have to wait long and feel tired. Selling nasi uduk (rice cooked in coconut milk) during the pandemic, I’ve suffered losses. Sometimes the rice goes unsold and sometimes I only earn Rp 30,000. Earnings from my husband’s farm are not enough,” Ema said.

I need this cash aid. It\'s OK for me to have to wait long and feel tired.

Ema and some friends slept in a prayer room at the GOR sports hall. Among them was Amelia (29), a resident of Pamoyanan, South Bogor, who arrived at around 6:30 in the evening on Wednesday.

KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

Ema (64), a resident of Situ Gede, Bubulak, West Bogor, arrived early and had to stay overnight at the GOR Pajajaran prayer room. He had arrived early to avoid long lines since 22.30, Wednesday (21/4/2021).

On Wednesday afternoon, Amelia had gone through a part of the BLT disbursement verification process. However, when checking her documents, one of the aid officials said it was incomplete. "That means I have to complete all the requirements and come back. It was fine. After completing the requirements, I decided to stay overnight at the sports hall so I could take a queue number earlier. I got a queue number at 11 o’clock in the evening and got the aid at 10 o’clock in the morning the next day, ”said the mother of two children.

Amelia said that she had been trying to obtain the BLT cash aid since early April through a Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) branch not far from her house. However, the quota for those who could get the aid from the bank had been fulfilled. She then looked for another BRI branch but results were the same. She was latter advised to go to the Pajajaran sports hall where the fund could be disbursed immediately.

"Last year, the first batch of BLT could be disbursed through the BRI branch nearby. It was easy and not so complicated. The queue was not that long. I don’t know why the disbursement of this year’s aid was centered at the GOR soccer stadium. As a result, the area was so crowded. It was quite risky because the health protocols were not strictly implemented,” said Amelia.

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According to her, pooling the disbursement in one place was ineffective. She suggested that the disbursement be carried out at a number of locations and involved many banks. Even so, Amelia is still grateful a to be able to receive the Rp 1.2 million cash. Since the beginning of the pandemic until now, her chicken noodle business has not been as busy as in previous years. A day, she could only sell between 10 and 30 bowls, and some time, she sold only five bowls.

"Last year, I received the BTL aid totaling Rp 2.4 million. Now, it was only Rp. 1.2 million but it was fine because we really needed it . I will use the money for business and some for daily needs,” she added.

The mayor of Bogor city, Bima Arya, said the pandemic had severely affected a number of business sectors, including small businesses. The latest data showed how the economic sector in the city fell by 6.57 percent, while unemployment increased by 3.6 percent, and the poverty rate increased from 0.91 percent to 6.68 percent. As many as 77 percent of the residents experienced a reduction in income, 37 percent lost their jobs and 19 percent had to sell their assets to survive.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Dede Suratmi (59) after receiving direct cash assistance for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) at the Pajajaran Sports Hall complex, Bogor City, West Java, Wednesday (21/4/2021).

In addition to the BLT cash aid provided by the Cooperatives and SOE Ministry, the Bogor city administration has also initiated a number of programs to help the businesses affected by the pandemic. The focus of the programs is to support the economic recovery and to create jobs through labor-intensive programs.

In the near future, as part of efforts to support small businesses, the Bogor city administration will launch a millennial entrepreneurship program with a target of producing 1,000 new millennial entrepreneurs.

The program is part of the efforts initiated by the Bogor city administration in coping with the impact of the pandemic.

At the national level, the data issued by the Statistics Indonesia (BPS) showed that the number of poor people per September 2020 had increased by 2.76 million people to 27.55 million people, or equivalent to 10.19 percent of the total population, compared to the same month in the previous year .

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The pandemic has affected 29.12 million Indonesian workers. As many as 2.56 million of them lost their jobs as a result of Covid-19. Meanwhile, 24.03 million others worked less hours. There were also other 1.77 million people who did not work because of Covid-19.

Various assistance programs initiated by the central and regional governments to help the people affected by the pandemic should be highly appreciated. However, the distribution of the aid still needs to be improved so that those eligible receive the assistance easier.

After passing through the winding road to get the BLT cash aid, Smiles were seen on the tired faces of Amelia, Ema, and many other recipients at the Pajajaran sports hall last Thursday. The Rp 1.2 million is a source of relief in the midst of economic uncertainty during this pandemic.

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.