VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The newly appointed Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini said President Joko Widodo mandated her to finish the 2020 Social Assistance by the end of the year.

"Then next year in early January it has to be distributed to run the economy," she said after the handover ceremony in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Her role was previously filled by Coordinating Minister Muhadjir Effendy. He was appointed by the president as Acting Minister of Social Affairs.

After being inaugurated, Risma, the Minister's nickname, said that she would move quickly, including improving data, especially the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS).

According to her, whatever work program to be implemented must have benchmarks so data is very much needed. For example, if the government provides assistance, it should show its impact on the lives of aid recipients.

"There must be a measure," she said.

Apart from improving the data, Risma said that she would also focus on paying attention to other social problems, including on handling people with mental issues who are homeless.

In fact, she admitted that she had coordinated with the Minister of Health regarding this problem.

"Nobody cared for them, now we have to treat it, and I believe it can be handled," said the PDI-P politician.

She will also focus on handling street children.

Meanwhile, the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture said that the Ministry of Social Affairs has a strategic and important role in efforts to overcome social problems.

This is in line with President Joko Widodo's program, namely human resource development, simplification of the bureaucracy, infrastructure development, simplification of regulations, and finally economic transformation.

To realize these five national programs, Muhadjir hopes that all levels at the Ministry of Social Affairs can work optimally and carry out the assigned tasks well.

On that occasion, the former Minister of Education and Culture also reminded the Ministry of Social Affairs to immediately update the DTKS. (antaranews)