Twinkle of Happiness1

IN THE TWINKLE OF HAPPINESS:A collection of interesting and

inspiring stories from PKH field workers

Kantor Pusat UPPKH (Central O�ce of the PKH implementing Unit)

Directorate of Social SecurityDirectorate General of Social Protection and Security

Ministry of Social A�airs 2012

Supported by

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2012

Editor: Muhammad NashihinTranlators: Muhammad Nashihin; Ajeng Purnama; Angel N.Manembu; Sary

P.Bachry; Dewi Suryaningsih; and supported by Nurjaman, Al� Sudirasmita, Kukuh Primayoga, and Hirda Arindah


Directorate of Social SecurityDirectorate General of Social Protection and Security

Ministry of Social A�airs 2012

IN THE TWINKLE OF HAPPINESS:A collection of interesting and

inspiring stories from PKH field workers

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PREFACE

A proverb says, “Experience is the best teacher.” An extraordinary experience will be mediocre and just disappear if not written and not documented. Conversely, the experience mediocre will be interesting when it is written and documented.

This collection of interesting and inspiring stories is a documentation of the experiences of PKH officers in the field, especially the PKH facilitators. The document is expected to be an instrument for communicating between PKH officers in the field. The experiences from the field written by some PKH facilitators are certainly very useful for learning for other facilitators. The document is also expected to be an inspiration to explore new ideas for improvements ahead for activists of PKH.

PKH facilitators are the frontline in the success of the implementation of PKH. PKH facilitators are the frontline officers who are directly related to the PKH beneficiaries, to the officers in the service provider for both education and health sector, as well as to other stakeholders. During the course of their service, they have found many inspirational experiences, which are valuable to us all.

I really appreciate to all people who involved in the preparation and publication of this book and thank you very much.

May God Almighty always give grace and merciful to us all. Amin.

Jakarta, June 2012

Director of Social Securities

Edi Suharto, Ph.D

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CONTENTS

Preface vii

In The Twinkle Of Happiness 1

Scrapes From My RTSM 5

RTSM Got Sanctions:

“Sudden Change In Facilitator’s Face From Brown To Pale:” 7

Nggah-Nggih Mboten Kepanggih:

(An Inspiration From Wedi Utah Kampung) 11

Learning To Wait In Line 15

“Zero Capital” And “Soap” Rotary-Saving Clubs:

(An Inspiration From The Pkh Group At Serpeng And At Kranggan Gunungsari) 21

PKH Membership Card Queue! 23

Grateful For Being Able To Work With The Poor 27

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PKH Facilitator: Challenges And Benefits 29

Invited To A Fight From A Village Head 31

“Sorry Miss, I Have Lots Of Kids”:

(Inspired By Triwardani – An RTSM In Semuluh Kidul) 33

PKH Beneficiaries Were Worried Of Political Interest 35

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Story 1

IN THE TWINKLE OF HAPPINESSBy: Satria Pristiance,

PKH Facilitator, Putri Hijau Subdistrict, North-Bengkulu Disctrict, Bengkulu

Story 1 – In The Twinkle Of Happiness

My name is Satria. I am the only PKH facilitator in the Putri Hijau Subdistrict located at the far end of North Bengkulu District. I have experienced a lot of stories during the course of my serving as a facilitator for almost 3 years, sometimes a happy experience, especially in a time when I accompany my RTSM (very poor household to whom I work as the facilitator) to take the cash transferred. Though the money is not much, I saw their starry-eyes, which describe the gratitude and thanks for the attention from the government towards those who are located far away here. The location is very difficult to reach. To go to the nearest post office, in which the money is disbursed, they have to spend a lot of money. If you’re lucky, they may have a car-ride that happens to enter their village. Road conditions are often badly damaged and it is often that RTSM fell off the bike. That’s why sometimes I had to force my tears not to fall whenever I saw them get in line in front of the post office to take the money.

Among the many of experiences during the course of my job as a PKH facilitator here, one of the most touching is one accident at a time of cash-disbursement process. At that time, as usual, I accompanied the RTSM to take the money, checked the payment forms and PKH-ID card to avoid giving the money to a wrong person. They lined up one by one, made jokes that make us feel happy with a noisy atmosphere. The time was showing at 11.30 am when the accident occurred, one of the RTSM who had just received the money and went home was reported to have an accident. Some people who went to the post office said that she was seriously injured. It’s really a dilemma for me. I really wanted to go to the health centre, in which she was being treated. But, on the other hand, I had to finish my work because there was still a queue of RTSM to take the money.

At 01.00 pm, the cash-disbursement process was finished. I rushed to the clinic where she was being treated. Her condition was really worried. Bruises in her eyes and wounds over her body caused her unconscious. I looked for her family and asked her PKH-ID card and her citizenship-ID card needed to show to the clinic administration section.

It was very disappointing as the head of the health centre refused to use the PKH-ID card as a formal prove for Jamkesmas (health insurance for the poor) treatment. I soon met the head of health centre and explained that based on manual book of Jamkesmas, PKH-ID cardholder is also treated as Jamkesmas card holder. Finally, Alhamdulillah (thanks God), the head of the centre understood and the injured woman were treated in the clinic for free. After I felt everything was over, I went home and gave my mobile-phone number to the doctor asking for calling me whenever the patient was getting worse.

Shortly after my arrival at home, I was contacted by the clinic and was asked to come immediately to the clinic because the injured woman was blood-vomited and must be immediately referred to a hospital. While the doctor was writing a referral letter, I told her family to get ready. But, it was really sad, her kids begged me not to admit their mother to a hospital just because they had no money at all. The money just received at the post office amounted to Rp 250,000 had been lost during the accident. “Maybe the money fell,” said the kids. Fortunately, after discussion with the doctor, he would bear the entire cost for transportation to the hospital.

The following day, I contacted the patient’s kids to enquire their mother’s conditions as well asking if there were any administration constraints. The same thing happened again. The hospital did not understand the PKH program. It’s really disappointing me. I immediately coordinated with the regional office of the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Health Services and asked for their assistance for the hospital administration. After going through several stages and a little emotionally draining, eventually the hospital accepted the referral letter and PKH-ID card being treated as Jamkesmas card holder. The blood-vomited woman was well handled and treated at no cost at all.

Alhamdulillah (Thanks God), truly behind the difficulties are always accompanied by ease.

A few days later, the child's women came and saw me saying thank you for my assistance in relieving their mother's medical expenses. I was touched. I wish all Indonesian people could get medical treatment for free without having any complicated processes, how happy they were, noticing that they are lack of economic capability.


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I wish all Indonesian people have a good livelihoods and evenly distribution! People hope that the independence is really a right of all nations, freedom with justice without any discrimination in any forms including the justice for the non-have people. Hopefully, and hopefully this comes true as the time passes by.

For you all PKH facilitator friends, wherever you are, keep fighting to carry out the mandate of achieving a prosperous life, and to build our dreams together. PKH brings the hope comes true, the hope that Indonesia is a country with well educated and healthy people both in terms of physics and spirits. Greeting PKH.

Translator: Muhammad Nashihin


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Story 2 – Scrapes From My RTSM

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Story 2

SCRAPES FROM MY RTSMBy: Aziston,

PKH Facilitator, Ulu Talo Subdistrict, Seluma District, Bengkulu

I have been serving for two years as a PKH facilitator in an area in which I live in. I am doing my job day by day without any feeling of tired due to keeping in my mind that I am serving in my hometown.

There are 205 very poor households (RTSM) in my area. They are scattered in six villages under the sub-district of Ulu Talo in Seluma District, Bengkulu Province. Ulu Talo Subdistrict is one of the poorest sub-districts and left-behind areas, how couldn’t it be? Transportation and communication are so bad that farmers have always been in difficulties for selling their agricultural to outside regions. Worse than that is the fact that up to 67-years after Indonesian Independence the people in this district have never been touched by the electrical power.

In conducting my activities, there are not a few obstacles and hurdles that I face, such as geographical conditions. My area is located just at the bottom of a long-line mountain called Bukit Barisan, which start from the island of Sabang at the northern tip of Sumatra Island to the southern tip of Sumatra Island, which borders the Strait of Sunda. This situation makes my work area is mountainous and, worse than that, the roads are sometimes still muddy. One of the villages that take my attention the most is the village of Giri Nanto. The village is the most difficult to reach and is the furthest village from the sub-district capital area. To reach this village, let alone four-wheel vehicles, to reach this village by mo-torcycle, I have to bring a companion in preparation for helping me whenever my motorcycles cannot run as it is trapped in the heavy muddy road.

Road towards “Giri Nanto” Village

Story 2 – Scrapes From My RTSM

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Among the 205 households under my responsibility, I find one family that touch my concern the most, Mrs (late) Sawiyah’s family who live in the village of Giri Nanto. Mrs. Sawiyah died about one year ago. I turned the PKH family caretaker to her daughter named Mrs. Ponijah, which has 3-year-old toddlers. She has to care for her farther, i.e., the husband of Mrs. Sawiyah, which is old and sickly. Meanwhile, the husband of Mrs. Ponijah has been left them at home for almost 4 years. In short, this family desperately need of our helping hand.

This family desperately needs our assistance. Other than to buy food, this assistance is also to cover her father’s medical expenses as he can no longer earn money due to his old and illness. This family has no home to live in. They live in a former transmigration officer’s home, which is not in use anymore, and it is actually no feasible as a home. They sleep only on battered mats and cushions and use potluck dishes. She is just a farm-worker. If someone gives her a job, she can earn between Rp. 5.000, - and Rp. 20.000, per day (equivalent to roughly US $0.56 – $2.22). Otherwise, she is relies on the mercy of her neighbours. Thus, the money for everyday meal is not enough, let alone for an adequate family’s nutrition.

The above phenomenon knocks on my heart as a PKH facilitator which is, as a social worker, to do my job more seriously and delicately. I realize there are a lot of our people who still really need a serious attention and assistance from other people and also from the government. Improvement in RTSM’s economy is one way to change their lives. Habits to save money, habits to avoid exaggerate consumption-patterns, and habit to join Arisan (a rotating-saving club) are some new habit to recommend to RTSM towards a better life.


Story 3 – RTSM Got Sanction: "sudden change in facilitator's face from brown to pale"

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Story 3

RTSM GOT SANCTIONS: “sudden change in facilitator’s face from brown to pale:”

By: Rasmuliati Surbakti, PKH facilitator in Belawan Bahagia village, Medan Belawan subdistrict

“Are your ready to be deployed anywhere?” one of the examiners asked me in an interview session.

“Ready!” this answer came from my tiny lips. Soon after being accepted as a PKH facilitator, I was thinking everything would be fine. Then, I was assigned to replace a previous facilitator, who never did his job since he was accepted as a PKH facilitator, in the Village of Belawan Bahagia within Medan Belawan District. Before sharing my experience, I will describe the geographical situation of the location.

Belawan Bahagia Village is located at a height of 0-3 meters above sea level. The size is 21.82 km2 or 2.182 Ha. The distance from sub-district government office is 1 km, while the distance from the capital city of Medan Belawan is 26 km. The border lines of Belawan Medan: the Strait of Malacca is at the northern border, Medan Labuhan is at the southern border, Hamparan Perak is at the eastern and at western borders is Percut Sei Tuan. The majority of the population are fishing and labourers at nearby harbour. My home is about 26 km from this location and I need about 2 hours to reach this place from my home. Service providers (health and education facilities) are available in the village.

The character of the very poor households (RTSM) is unique. So is the behaviour. It’s unique, in my opinion, because their behaviour can be easily influenced by other people as long as these people bring them money or something that are promising for their welfare.

Sometimes their character is like small trees on the hill. The trees always tend towards a wind direction. If the wind blows from the right, the trees are leaning to the right. When the wind blows from the left, they are leaning to the left. Unlike big trees, they remain firm despite heavy wind blows from whatever directions.


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By telling this parable, I want to reveal the unique character of the grassroots, the community that has a very low level of economic status. The community is easily influenced by other people (parties) as they need money.

I wish all Indonesian people have a good livelihoods and evenly distribution! People hope that the independence is really a right of all nations, freedom with justice without any discrimination in any forms including the justice for the non-have people. Hopefully, and hopefully this comes true as the time passes by.

I will give some illustrations on my experiences I have so far as a PKH facilitator RTSM deployed by the Ministry of Social Affairs in the Village of Belawan along with my 3 other facilitator friends.

My first duty was doing an orientation to the location/environment. I was giddy and like walking on the sea. The walkway to RTSM’s home was only fit for two people who passed. What's more was when I entered the home, it was really above the sea with only two pieces of boards for walkway. I had to ask my group leader to lead me walking through the walkway. Now, I already enjoy in such environment.

Small ripples arose when the PKH beneficiaries got sanctions (by cutting small portion of the benefit) because they failed to comply with the conditionalities, i.e., their attendance in both health and school facilities. Pressures from other parties such as non-PKH beneficiaries and NGOs made the situation worse.

Well, here is the whole story. It was around 2010 when the sanctions were imposed for the first time. Far earlier I already made socializations about the sanctions in the PKH group meeting. They will have a payment cut whenever they fail to meet the conditionalities. The money transferred to them will be less than the usual amount whenever their kids do not go to school or their babies or the pregnant women do not go to health centre at the scheduled time. During the group-meeting, all RTSM noted, "it’s fine, Mam. We’re very grateful that we've given the assistance. This is to make our children healthy and studious," one RTSM assisted me in response to my explanation and so did other RTSM.


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It was just about the time for money-disbursement. The final data was already in my hand. In order to avoid unexpected situation during the time of money- disbursement at Post Office, I asked some RTSM, who had payment cut, to come over to the home group-leader and collected some information, like why their kids were absent from school.

Their reaction was so shocking that made a sudden change in my face, from brown to pale. "How dare you to cut my money. The money you eat makes your stomach bloated," shouted of one RTSM and soon after she called her husband to come over and they all get angry on me. To be precise, this happened at Jalan Blanak Lk 16 Belto, in the Belawan Bahagia Village.

I could not say anything, just trying to be quiet and calm. More and more RTSM were coming over to the home of group-leader, each with her husband and there was even someone who robbed my (payment) data, for making a copy. It’s said the copy was to be reported to his brother who was a regional parliament member.

Afterwards, I did not dare go home alone. Because according to some people in the neighbourhood, it once has happened that a government official was beaten by some other residents. So I was escorted by the people to wait for public transportation to Medan. The same story still continues at the Post Office during the money-disbursement process. A lot of ripples facing the four facilitators who served in the Village of Belawan Bahagia, Medan Belawan Subdistrict.

Many sorts of things are blamed on the facilitators. Part of the blame was this: The RTSM still believed that it was the work of facilitator to reduce the money. Although it was explained in detail as much as possible, the sanction arrangement was still irrational for them. Ironically, some RTSM, who were already in the non-category of PKH beneficiaries, still considered the money is flowing into the pockets of the facilitators.

However, the facilitators keep going, every occasion, to meet RTSM in the posyandu (community health centre) and in the group-meeting, to explain what the rights and obligations of the RTSM. In addition, the facilitators also make small leaflets. Finally, slowly but surely, RTSM understand the commitment of beneficiaries toward the PKH conditionalities.


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Process of updating data

Looking for new beneficiaries

Just having breathing, again I was struck by a new story about "replacement." It was still around 2010. I was asked to submit new RTSM names to replace the RTSM who were no longer eligible as PKH beneficiaries for some reasons, such as the RTSM move to live in non-PKH areas or the RTSM had no baby/pregnant women/school children anymore. I proposed 18 new RTSM as per quotas. These names were already screened through consultation with local government officer and doing checks and re-check data.

After long time waiting, the command to the disbursement of PKH funds was coming. To my surprise, not a single person from the 18 new RTSM that I

proposed was in the list of the beneficiaries.

Immediately, I suddenly got a headache and dizziness while looking for reasonable explanations to be disclosed to the new RTSM. For sure, gradually they would tell each other among them, because that's the culture of Belawan Bahagia people.

Eventually, I was worried about happened. I wonder who gave the command, the new RTSM get together and were going to make a rally to the City Parliament and regional implementing unit of PKH in Medan. Likewise they also came out swearing and hang around blaspheming me. I was considered to be bad facilitator, to apply like and dislike decision, and the like.

Based on the report from the group leader, I went to the provocateur of the rally and explained the real problem. I also showed evidence that I have proposed the new RTSM’s name several times. I at the same time also showed a letter from PKH regional coordinator telling the reasons why their names were not in the list. And until recently, the 18-new RTSM showed a ’lemon’ faces whenever they see me. I am not surprised anymore. Being a target of RTSM’s expletive seems to be part of my job. Thank you.

Translated by: Muhammad Nashihin

Story 4 – Nggah-Nggih Mboten Kepanggih: "an inspiration from Wedi Utah kampung"

Story 4

NGGAH-NGGIH MBOTEN KEPANGGIH1:“(An Inspiration from Wedi Utah kampung2)”

By: Theresia RatnawatiPKH facilitator in Semanu Subdistrict, Gunung Kidul, DI Yogyakarta

I found this experience when I stepped into the third year of serving as a PKH facilitator in Semanu Subdistrict, my birth-place, a little village but now becoming a small city.

Wedi Utah, a beautiful kampung with views of fields and some limestone hills in the southern village of Ngeposari. The population is more than 200 families, the largest among villages in Ngeposari. Politeness and maturity are the first impression that I can describe for the character of the people in the kampung. All PKH stakeholders in the area are coming each time when PKH regular or even emergency meetings are conducted. They are the head of the kampong and his staffs. It’s my honour that they are respect to my job; at least they are welcoming and greeting me.

PKH beneficiaries in this area are 35 RTSM, no wonder that the regular meeting is always in noisy and exciting situation. Almost no one had ever get out from the PKH group meetings. I will mark 99 out 100 for the people participation to this area anyway. However, one morning at around 06.00 am, when I was just about to go to the post office to supervise the quarterly PKH benefit disbursement, suddenly a coughing old widow was coming to my home with a rather strange face. I welcomed and questioned calmly her motivation of coming to me at the early morning. She suddenly cried and repeatedly asking forgiveness.

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1 This is a poetic but a cynical language originating from a high-rank Javanese language. It means you always say ‘yes’ but you never commit.

2 Is a small and usually a separated area from the mainland of a village


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3 A high-rank Javanese language meaning “I am so sorry, please forgive me!” 4 It is a community empowerment program, which is also implemented by the MOSA.

Towards the RTSM’s home

“Nyuwun ngapunten mbak, kulo ampun didukani!” 3. I was soon surprised.

“What’s up, mam?, I’ll not be angry, please just tell me what happened. ” The woman occasionally cried and said that she was not able to raise goats (so, it is about KUBE4) because she was working out of town and could not take care of the goats. Her son who was sitting in sixth grade was studying hard to prepare his primary school final exams. I was laughed in my heart and told the women:

“It's okay, mom. Please do not cry just for being not able to be the participants KUBE. I came yesterday just to check the location and your home. This is to ensure the readiness of potential participants, not to force you to be the participants of KUBE. Please do not be misunderstood. I just want to make sure that the participants of KUBE are really feasible to avoid being a member just because of an enforcement.”

But the story did not end yet. Again, the women repeatedly apologized and begged me not to yell at her.

“Please do not get angry with me, Ms. I am going to tell.” I was getting more curious with this woman. She really seemed to be afraid. She then told me that during the last three years each PKH beneficiary must set aside some money amounted to between 10-15 thousand rupiahs in each money disbursement for the head of kampung and his staffs. This is organized by the group-meeting leader.

Oops .... unbelievable!, I can’t believe it. My heart was suddenly puzzled. I was very disappointed as to why an area that seemed to be very cooperative and to obey the rules very well was able to do that. Then this woman woke me up with her repeated apologies. I finally told her that I thanked for her courage to report the real situation lasting for long time. The woman said:

“This is not the case that I am not willing to give money to the head of kampung and his staffs. Actually, I always remember the words of you, Ms. Ratna, (facilitator’s name, ed.) at each regular meeting.


Ms. Ratna said that we should not give money to anyone in any forms. So far, I was afraid to friends and head of kampung, Ms. I'm sorry. I am doing this because my friends got angry with me because I do not want to raise the goats from KUBE.

This is not the case that I am not willing to raise the goats, Ms. But really, I am very busy and cannot do that.”

“Fine, calm down, mam!” I then get a drink of water so that the woman is calm. After a while, I asked again, “Why did you do that, mam. You and all friends so far were willing to give the money. Is it not the case that we have a commitment at the meeting to not break the rules?.”

The woman just replied:

“I don’t know, Ms.! That was an initiative of my friends; I just went along with it. Ms., don’t tell anyone that I reveal this, please!”

After the woman revealed all the information, I asked her to go home because I must leave soon for the post office to super-vise the cash disbursements. I still have to overcome my feeling of disappointment and still in disbelief. Why does this area seem to be very good but have bad habit behind my back? Finally I tried to calm down the emotions for the disbursement of payments. The situation at that time got tense since I could not hide my disappointed face in front of the PKH beneficiaries.

Prior to the disbursements, I met the PKH beneficiaries and with a serious face I again repeatedly remind them on the consequence of exclusion from PKH beneficiaries whenever the RTSM desperate to do the cutting benefits. With a little bit of improvising, I've pretended to know all cutting issues in the village Ngeposari and has picked up the names of the initiators. I was deliberately lied to in front of them as if I already knew in which areas the cut occurred, but I actually did not know.

After giving descriptions of the impact of the benefit cuts, I believed they would get caught and worried and would shortly come up to me. I just want them honest and to admit what they had done and came up to me to explain the issues.

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And it’s just right. What I had been expecting occurred. A short time prior to the disbursement, some group-meeting leaders came to me and admitted frankly that they had done the deed; the cut was not in all areas, but nearly half of them. The reason was they feel uncomfortable with the head of kampong and his staffs. The beneficiaries wanted to thank for their help. Sometimes they also often get hints from the community.

In response to this, then I discussed with my facilitator friends to decide a follow-up actions to those who made such cuts. Finally, the first action I take was to ask them to sign an official declaration stating that they are not going to the benefit anymore given to anyone in any forms except for a small cash amounted to Rp 1000 each month for the group cash.

And if they are caught doing and repeating to cut again, then they should be willing for an exclusion from the PKH participation and legal action will be taken in accordance with existing regulations. The letter was signed on the stamp in the hope this would create a prevention effect to them.

Based on the experience, I finally learned a little, that something that looks good on the surface are not necessarily a guarantee that a program will run well according to the plan. It still needs a good control and a specific conflict management to see the systems as a whole in order to know the program well done. Regarding the culture of gift as an acknowledgments, which at this time leads to a collusion and a mini corruption, should I have to say thank you to someone or an agent, as a Javanese, I wish I could properly put it where and when. (RED-There.)


Story 5 – Learning To Wait in Line

It was already late afternoon, at 04.00 pm, but the queues in front of the Post Office were still snaking up outside the fence. There were two queues. I thought it was a unique scene. The people in the lines were all housewives accompanied by their children who were running here and there, just like other children, joyful wherever they are. A PKH facilitator with a batik-uniform was standing there, at the end of the queue. Here, at this point, the two queues ended, just before an entrance door of the room, in which the women will receive their money. Only one cashier attended the room. Yes, just one cashier. On the other hand, the women in the lines were more than 800. Next to the cashier were several plastic bags containing many packs of money. One pack is worth Rp 150.000, or Rp.200,000, or Rp.350.000, or Rp 450.000, - and the greatest value of Rp. 550.000, -. The post office officer already prepared the pack, one woman will receive one pack of money according to the structure of her household members. The management information system of UPPKH (implementing unit of PKH) informed the post office on how many people will receive Rp 150.000, how many people will receive Rp 200.000 and so on.

I felt proud to be part of the people who involved in managing the queues. The pride arose with regard to my friend’s statement just few hours before. He admired what happened in Japan, which was just hit by a tsunami disaster. In such emergency situations, they still could line up orderly and neatly. My wild thoughts soon drifted into the future. It will be possible that this mechanism being developed by this program could be a seed of such order that my friends admired.

Why were all in the lines women? This is a part of the PKH Design. The one who has to receive the PKH benefit must be a woman, who is taking care of a household. That’s why those who were in the lines were all women.

PKH program is expected to deliver a tremendous hope. That is to meet a better future for very poor households by giving them a better access to both education and health facilities.

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Story 5

LEARNING TO WAIT IN LINEBy: Mardi

PKH regional coordinator, Western Indonesia


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Having a specific target of promoting human resource, the PKH is designed to last for at least 6 years (multi years). With this regard, PKH is different from most other programs, which are mostly only for one year.

We once had a direct cash transfer program (BLT or Bantuan Langsung Tunai). It was launched at a crisis period when the government of Indonesia took a policy to raise fuel prices. To reduce the burden of the poor, the government gave cash transfers through the BLT program to assist the poor for covering their basic needs. When the cash transfer was first disbursed, a lot of riots occurred.

PKH is different from BLT for at least two aspects. BLT was prepared in a short period of time due to an emergency situation, while PKH was prepared in a very long period of time and was prepared carefully. A benchmarking process was also conducted as part of the preparation by visiting some of the Latin American countries that had previously and successfully implemented a similar program.

Under the coordination of the Bappenas (National Development Planning Agency) the draft of the PKH design was discussed carefully among stakeholders. The discussion took a long time before it was ready for implementation in Indonesia. As the implementing agent, the Ministry of Social Affairs selected bright and young officers who have a good, far-ahead vision for running this program. They are all Ph.D or doctorate degree holders.

The name of PKH itself was selected from many other alternative names through a depth discussion:

1. Program Peningkatan Kualitas Keluarga Miskin (Program of Improving the quality of the poor) 2. Program Keluarga Sehat dan Cerdas (Healthy and Bright Family Program)3. Program Keluarga Sehat dan Pandai (Healthy and Good Family Program)4. Program Harapan Keluarga (Family’s Expectation Program)5. Program Keluarga Harapan (Family Hope Program)6. Program Masa Depan Keluarga Bahagia (Sejahtera) (the future of happy (prosperous) Family Program) 7. Program Keluarga Bahagia (Cerah) (Happy (Bright) Family Program)8. Program Keluarga Bermasa Depan (Good Future family Program)


9. Program Keluarga Berharapan (Cerah) (Cherish Family Program)10. Program Menjangkau Harapan Keluarga (Reaching Family’s expectation Program)11. Program Kami Peduli! (We Care Program)12. Program Raih Masa Depan! (Reaching the Future Program)13. Program Raih Harapanmu! (Grab Your Future Program)14. Program Sehat Pangkal Pandai! (Healthy Produces Smart Program)15. Program Ayo Bersama Cerdas & Sehat (ABCS) (Come to Smart & Healthy Program)

These names were really sound to give a very strong emotion and intention to get out from poverty. The program has actually a lot of promises. Finally, it was agreed to name such a great program as PKH, which stands for Program Keluarga Harapan or Family Hope Program.

PKH is a great program to change the attitudes and behaviour of the recipients towards the view of poverty. In order not to pass the poverty to the coming generation, they must have an attitude and value that will take them away from the poverty. Without guidance step by step they are still trapped in a vicious circle of poverty. The pathway pioneered by PKH is expected to be the answer of a legendary question of “Why do the poor stay poor?”

The mentioned queue is one process within the whole process of PKH mechanisms, which starts from a monumental “First Community Meeting” process. In this meeting, the recipient women promise to themself to comply and to commit to the program mechanisms seriously. At the first community meeting, the facilitator wearing the batik uniform gave a doctrine to housewives (beneficiaries) about PKH and especially the essence of PKH. Understanding the essence of PKH is very important for the beneficiaries because it will affect the recipient's commitment to comply the PKH seriously. The conditionalities are to access basic education and health services. Basic education services are for school-age children (7-15) regardless of formal or non-formal schools. These services are also for children aged 7-18 years who have not completed primary education. If a family notices that their children are not registered at a school and are working, the family must encourage the children to return to school, or to a “shelter” in preparation of returning to school, or to orphanage, or to some other social institutions.

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Other conditionalities are to access health services for pregnant women, birth, and post birth women, babies aged up to 11 months, children aged 1-5 years. In the health facilities they will get the several services in accordance with medical protocols. The golden period in the development of a child should be paid a special attention.

Even recently there was an agreement among the PKH stakeholders to include the pre-school children, i.e., children aged 5-6 years, into the health services. So there will no year gap in carrying out the verification until the children registered at a primary school at the age of 7 years.

The conditionalities are designed, as per manual book of PKH, to invest in human capital to achieve a better life in the future. Developing the RTSM’s way of thinking is not an easy job like flipping hand. Therefore, their commitment to the fulfil-ment of conditionality should be always measured, evaluated, and motivated through the stages of verification.

Once all conditionalities verified by the service provider officers (in education and health facilities) through the verification process, then they will queue up again every 3 months to cash out the PKH benefits.

The facilitator with the batik uniform at the end of the queue was not tired to answer all the questions coming from the PKH recipients about many things they asked. The questions were around the issues of why they receive money this much for this month, why this is not the same as amount of money they received three months before. The facilitator also discussed the way out of problems.

At the end of another queue, there was a warm discussion between many PKH recipients and an officer from the UPPKH, who seemed to be a senior and mature in explaining the issues. It seemed the recipients were those who received sanctions or disincentives due to failed in complying the conditionalities such as their children did not meet the school attendance as much as 85% of the effective days. They also might not attend the health services in accordance with the PKH rules.

There are many reasons as why they not fulfil their promises. Most of the reasons were the absence of their children from school. When I asked the facilitator, most of them were informed me that the children were actually already asking permission from their parent to go to school, but they actually did not do that.

Worse than that, some of the children just hang out and played games on a popular Play Station (PS), which are available in many places. For sure, these symptoms indicate a need to look for a way out, not only from the facilitators, but also from the parents and schools/teachers.

The senior officer had to give the explanation in a simple language in order to easily understood by the beneficiaries with the full faith and full of smiles. Remarkably the PKH beneficiary women already know exactly the rules because they have oftentimes heard the terms given by the facilitator. This also gives a good clue for the senior officer that the facilitator has done a good job.

The meeting was a kind of supervision to ensure that the verification process had run correctly. The senior officer repeatedly said that the life of the PKH is the verification process. Because without the verification, the PKH program is not different from the direct cash transfer program (BLT), which had a lot of criticism in many aspects.


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Story 6 – “Zero Capital” And “Soap” Rotary-Saving Clubs: (an Inspiration from the PKH group at Serpeng and at Kranggan Gunungsari)

In group meetings, as a PKH facilitator, I do not only share information, but I usually also do some other activities. I usu-ally invite PKH beneficiaries to create another activity, which is as costless as possible, or an activity enabling people to help each other. Two different amazing ideas from two different service areas have made me proud. The two areas areas are Serpeng Kampung in Pacarejo Village and Kranggan Gunungsari kampong in Ngeposari Village. Two unique ‘rotary-saving clubs’ emerged from these two areas. I had never thought to do such activities.

Lets start with a story from Serpeng kampung. The PKH group-meeting members name it as “Modal-Dengkul”5 rotary-saving club alias no capital to start a saving and loan activities. At the first step, each member pretended to have a large loan as much as Rp 100.000 (roughly US $ 11) for which each member has to pay ten time installments. At each time they have a regular group meeting, each member pays the installments consisting of the principal plus its interest, to pay off their fictive loan. By this way, they will have an initial capital to start saving and loan activities. So, this is a unique fund-raising. From the first installments, the group has had cash funds. From this point, the group starts to implement real savings and loans activities, comple-mented with different bookkeeping. At the second year, the group already had a cash of more than one million rupiahs. According to Ms. Sumartini and Ms. Sarmini Ma'am, the first and second rank group leaders in Serpeng Kampung, they had to do so due to a constraint of initial capital. Other efforts include the mutual cooperation in helping each other to overcome the every day cost of living they bear. These activities are able to keep sharing in enjoyment and sorrow. Tepo sliro, a Javanese value meaning a sense of empathy for others is a good word to describe the phenomenon.

Story 6

“ZERO CAPITAL” AND “SOAP” ROTARY-SAVING CLUBS: (an Inspiration from the PKH group at Serpeng and at Kranggan Gunungsari)

By: Theresia RatnawatiPKH facilitator in Semanu Subdistrict, Gunung Kidul, DI Yogyakarta

5 Literally meaning: “knee-capital”

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I also found another unique form of ‘rotary-saving’ club from group-meeting members in Kranggan Gunungsari Kampung. The difference is in the form of the saving. Instead of cash saving, this group uses a commodity as a mean of saving, i.e., a sachet of 1000 rupiah cream detergent soap or two sachets of 500 rupiah cream. The mechanism is as follows: Instead of depositing a sum of money, the group agrees to deposit the soap in accordance with the agreement. Two members will get lucky draws in each meeting. So two names will be drawn and each entitles to have dozens of sachet of soaps, which are not bad to relieve their daily needs.

Such simple things that I have found from two different meeting-groups make me to salute the spirit of their compassion for those who are in less fortunate. Sometimes we, who have regular salaries (of any rates), still often complain and ask for a raise in salaries, benefits, and the likes until sometimes we forget to appreciate what we have. By looking at their lives I often realized that behind the difficulties we experience, there are many people out there who still live in a more difficult situation than we have. Bravo for the PKH program, and hopefully this noble step taken by the government will be a permanent program like in the neighbouring country up until the number of poor is decreased significantly in our country. That's our spirit in the fields to perform our duties. Thank You. Red-There.


Story 6 – “Zero Capital” And “Soap” Rotary-Saving Clubs: (an Inspiration from the PKH group at Serpeng and at Kranggan Gunungsari)

Story 7 – PKH Mempership Card Queue!

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From a long distance, a crowd of people was looking in front of the Post Office Bungaya, Andi Tonro Road, City of Makassar. With my old bike, the Legend, I slowly entered the post office yard. My attendance was not interesting to the people who were sitting and standing waiting for the payment. Without thinking, I led my bike to the corner of the post office and then parked it, with a “standard” side.

I did not directly go to the cash-out point, in which the PKH facilitators and postal officers serving. It has become my habit, every time I visit the payment point, I do not directly go to the cash-out point. I prefer to talk to PKH beneficiaries, who do not know my identity. Indeed, I rarely wear the "black uniform" of Korwil (PKH area coordinator) when monitoring the payments. The purpose is to make it easier to interact with beneficiaries.

“Madam, are you going to receive PKH cash grant?” I asked a woman who is chatting with other women. “Yes”, she replied. Then I went on, “how much you will receive?” Some people answered this kind of question, but others did not and just ignored my question. To ensure that the woman will receive the right amount of money, I asked her to show me her PKH membership cards, ID cards, and the Families Cards, which were all put together in a sealed plastic folder. I slowly looked at the data written in these documents. Then asked about the amount of money she will receive today and compared to the previous payments. I did this repeatedly from one woman to the other women.

But unexpectedly, I did not once get a good response from a beneficiary. In fact, she seemed to suspect me, as if I were a journalist. A woman came up to me and asked, “Sir, who are you?” I paused for a moment.

Then I asked her, “So what’s up mam?” I asked.

Story 7

PKH MEMBERSHIP CARD QUEUE!

By: Hamid Abd RahmanPKH area coordinator, South Sulawesi

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“No, just want to know. I saw you questioning people many times. So who are you?” She raised the question repeatedly many times so that this attracted the attention of others.

It was not long after, Mr. Khalik (a PKH facilitator) saw me. He immediately greeted and intimately talked to me. This raised some questions from the surrounding woman. “Who is he, Mr Khalik.?”

“He is our Korwil, mam, our leader in the PKH.” “Owh, it turns out that he is the boss of Mr. Kalik.”After realizing my identity, the women began talking freely to me and then began to hesitate. Although I had no problem

anymore to find the information from the people, the facilitator called the woman, to whom I had just talked. She was cautious in presenting something to me. I don’t know why! I guess she was worried. She was worried if the information was not good, or if even it will affect the continuation of the cash grant. These questions were still not answered even after I tried to ask other people.

It’s a pity that the PKH facilitator too soon to reveal my identity to the people. If this has not happened, I would still have been able to talk to them longer in a relaxed situation. Probably, I would have been able to I get some information on their commitment, on the services they receive at health centres and on their children in school, including on the facilitator performance in the monthly group meetings. “Ok, that already happened and they already know me. What else!” Even so, I can still chat with them, even though with some limitations.

“Well, indeed they'd been sitting free wherever they want.” I looked around. There were women having fun, telling their stories. This could be seen from the expressions on their face and beautiful smiles. Among of them were mothers feeding their babies. Some were also enjoying the meatballs and light snacks, which were sold by people in the neighbourhood of the post office. Some mothers brought with them their own food, such as a variety of snacks, fried foods (bananas and sweet potatoes), boiled bananas, and jalangkote. Next to the point of payment, people shared food, having fun and joking, while waiting for their turn for being called by the facilitator.

I'm getting more curious about the performance of the facilitators in this district. I tried to approach Mr. Firman, another PKH facilitator, who was directing people queuing up between 5 to 10 people at the counter.


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RTSM on queing to receive PKH cash grant

Knowing I was approaching him, Mr. Firman slowly approached me. He greeted me. I also greeted him back and asked: “How are the payments today?”

“Running very well, just like you are observing right now,” he said. This answer made me happy.

Because of my curiosity, I continued to get information from him. “Why do only a small number of people in the queue, Mr. Firman?”

Mr. Firman said, “This is so, sir. They are given the opportunity to relax, while waiting their turn.”

The answers from Mr. Firman and Khalik made me more curious. What was the method applied in this payment point. Mr. Firman did not have time to explain, Daeng Naba came suddenly, who had apparently noticed our conversation. Daeng Naba explained. “Well sir,” he said, “once the PKH beneficiaries come to the post office, what they have to do firstly is to hand over their PKH membership card to the PKH facilitator. Then they can relax, joining the other people who arrive early. They can have a rest because their turn to receive the cash grant by this way can be ascertained.”

“Well, now I understand,” I said to the three facilitators around me. Well, if this can be applied in another districts, then we will not complain anymore on the long queue at the post office, which until now has not been resolved, both in Makassar and in two other districts (Gowa and Bone) and on the small space of payments area, especially in the District of Ujung Tanah, the island of Kodingareng, to which I've ever been at the third round of payment in November 2011.

By applying this method, since 2011, I no longer get complaints from the facilitators of sub-district Tamalate about payment points, which were hot, cramped, and crowded. We apply the "PKH Card Queue," not the "RTSM Queue" said Daeng Naba when he visited me at the last minute at the post office Bungaya.

Greet PKH, keep creating, and always be successful!

Translator: Dewi and Muhammad Nashihin


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Story 8 – Grateful For Being Able To Work With The Poor

Poverty reduction efforts face numerous challenges, particularly when dealing with the complexity of limited resources. Similar challenges are also faced by the Program Keluarga Harapan (PKH), a social assistance program developed under the Social Assistance Directorate of Ministry of Social Affairs, Republic of Indonesia.

As a facilitator of the program, who also performs as an arm of government in poverty reduction strategy, I believe that it has become our responsibility and obligation, not only the government’s, as global citizens to help others in need.

Families’ low economic conditions are believed to lead to low quality of nutrition and education, since some of them are dropping out of school. In some cases, low economic conditions also contribute to the exploitation of children. Poverty has forced them to work in order to increase their family income.

I have witnessed a significant development in RTSM (Rumah Tangga Sangat Miskin – chronically poor households), the main beneficiary of PKH. This can be seen, for instance, from the increasing knowledge and awareness of RTSM on the importance of good nutrition for babies and children under-five-years-old. This condition has led to an increase of health visits of pregnant mothers and children-under-five to community health centres in Danau Tiga village, Indragiri district, Riau. Health check-ups are carried out twice a month, every Thursday. Each day, the increase of knowledge and awareness of the pregnant mothers is pronounced.

I believe that social assistance in the area of education through PKH provides significant contribution in encouraging the promotion of basic education for poor households. In Indragiri Hulu district, most RTSM work as landless farmers. They work for others who possess land. In Dusun Tiga village for instance, numbers of RTSM of PKH work as landless farmer in latex plantation. In many cases, their income cannot fulfil their daily needs, moreover the need of education for their children. Therefore, most RTSM ask their children to drop out of school and help them in the plantation in order to get more income.

GRATEFUL FOR BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH THE POOR

By: Evi SulastriPKH Facilitator, Rengat Barat Subdistrict, Indragiri Hulu district, Riau

Story 8

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Story 8 – Grateful For Being Able To Work With The Poor

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This condition has led to the fact that the right of children to get education is taken away. Instead of going to school and having a better education, children are mostly forced to help their parents by working.

PKH has proven to increase the level of school attendance and participation, as well as decreasing the drop-out level among children in Danau Tiga village. The conditionalities attached to the program have successfully motivated RTSM to send their children back to school. Abil Winardo, a fourth grade student of 019 Primary School in Dusun Tiga, is one among other students beneficiaries of PKH who is now continuing his education. According to his teacher, Abil used to skip class to help his parents working in the plantation.

Now, it is a different story. PKH encourages Abil to fulfil the conditionality to attend the school with minimum attendance rate of 85% each month. When Abil fails, the program will cut the assistance of Rp 50,000 every month. In the third month, when no improvement is detected, Abil’s family will discontinue receiving assistance temporarily for one period. The conditionality is quite effective. Now, Abil’s parents are paying more attention to Abil’s school attendance. Interestingly, this has also motivated Abil to study hard and being disciplined in school. It is hoped that this will contribute to the improvement of Abil’s and other beneficiaries’ achievement in school, so they can compete with other non-beneficiaries students.

As a facilitator, I argue that PKH has provided significant contributions in poverty reduction, particularly in Danau Tiga Village, Indragiri District, Riau. This can be seen, as mentioned above, from the increase of beneficiaries’ awareness on the importance of education and health for the future generation. In the area of health, more pregnant women comprehend the need of good nutrition; while in the area of education, PKH manages to encourage and send back many children to school as well as decrease the drop-out level among children. It is hoped that PKH will create a high quality of students and promote a better generation with a strong educational background.

I am proud and lucky to assist and serve PKH’s beneficiaries. I hope that the program will be carried out sustainably, for it has provided a psychologically-positive impact for RTSM in order to live their life with optimism.

Translator: Ajeng Purnamasari

Story 9 – PKH Facilitator: Challenges And Benefits

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My name is Marhardi and I am a PKH facilitator for 11 villages in Tapung Sub District, Kampar District, and Province of Riau. In Tapung, we have 2 facilitators who work for 25 villages. Tapung is a challenging place to work since it has various ethnicities and religions. It also has a transmigration site. I have learned a lot and I have faced many interesting challenges. First, roads to villages have many holes, often flooded and have a high criminal rate. Secondly, one of the villages is not a Moslem village. It is not easy to go there in Ramadan because of the poor road conditions. In addition, many people eat everywhere and the weather is hot. But I go. Thirdly, it is not easy to win people’s hearts. In the beginning, all the villagers thought that I was a credit salesman. They often closed their doors and windows whenever I visited their homes. However, after I explained the objectives and the benefits of the PKH program they understood and some of them said sorry to me. This was a great experience. Now, I am friends with both PKH and non-PKH beneficiaries.

Moreover, I have also faced some protests from the non-beneficiaries. The non-beneficiaries questioned why they did not get the program, although they are poorer than the beneficiaries. I explained to them in details and it seemed the women could un-derstand. When we did an awareness-raising activity on PKH, most villagers attended, both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries. However, we cannot please everybody. We initiated community groups and we discussed regularly both PKH and other issues. I became their friends in talking about their daily difficulties and have to respond too even though I am often not sure if my answer is right. Nevertheless, I learned a lot of knowledge that I did not get from my university education. Sometimes they ask why only women that we provide payments to and not include men? So I have to explain, make jokes and all these activities are an important part of my duties. They are poor women but they have a rich heart.

Story 9

PKH FACILITATOR: CHALLENGES AND BENEFITS

By: Marhadi SardjaPKH facilitator, Tapung Subdistrict, Kampar District, Riau

Story 9 – PKH Facilitator: Challenges And Benefits

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There is a village from Sundanese background, the PKH women usually speak very softly and politely and this makes my heart calm down and I feel they just like my families. They thank to government attentions to them through the PKH program and they also receive benefits from other projects.

Interestingly, they share their benefits to other poorer families. I am wondering, how can they share to others? This touches my heart. If the rich would like to share their benefits and not corrupt or even taking from the poor, this nation would be prosperous. The husbands of the PKH women work as daily labourers and some are employed thank to the government and us. This is because we pay attention to their welfare, children, education, and also their health.

In my opinion, the facilitator’s work is not a burden, but a great task to implement. As a facilitator I hope to local government that they can implement the MOU that they have signed. If it is possible, the local government can pay more attention to facilitators’ well-being since we have to deal with so many poor people in 25 villages, which are far in distance from one village to the other.

Furthermore, the roads are in a very bad condition. I have fallen off my motorbike many times; I have also slipped into the river. Occasionally, I meet wild animals who have lost their forest. I have also sometimes wandered around in the palm-oil plantations. Often, the security man of the plantation did not allow me to go to the village I work in, although that road is the only access to the village. The distance of the village is about 25-30 km and everyday my transportation cost is about Rp 70,000 in normal time and the cost will be higher if my motorbike has problems, since it is an old motorbike. I just hope the local government can pay attention to this matter since the central government has provided a good project to the local government. May God bless us all.

Translator: Angel N. Manembu

Story 10 – Invited To A Fight From A Village Head

I never thought that I would work in the social sector, even though there is not a huge difference from the education sector, which I studied at my university. During my school days (both in high school and university), social activities were my hobbies. I used to do social activities such as to distribute assistance to orphans in every Ramadan month.

Many of my friends already have successful careers in business and banking. Some work as civil servants, including teachers. My reality is that I work in the largest office, which is in the field. I have my own schedule that I arrange in accordance with the PKH beneficiaries’ schedule.

I have worked for two years and feel that this is a great enjoyment of my work, which other people do not have. I work as a facilitator for the marginal community members. Many people consider this type of work not an important type of work in general. However, I have learned many aspects. I learnt to understand the work rhythm as a field worker in networking in order to have a good synergy with different sectors and employees. I have also faced challenges and difficulties. The reality at the fields sometimes tests our values. We have to act against all odds that seem embedded in the habits, such as many heads of villages want to change the PKH beneficiaries to villagers that they chose.

I would like to describe some experiences that we have faced. In Kampar sub-district, in Air Tiris. It is a centre of PERTI party (Tarbiyah Organization), a religious organization in Indonesia. When I first became a facilitator, I had to learn to speak in such a way so that the participants can accept my speech. When I have to chair a meeting, I am often confused: where do I start? Words from the book and from my university education could not be used. I had to explain this program in front of head of sub-district/ Pak Camat, head of villages and also head of education and health sector at the sub-district level including head of puskesmas (health centre) and the PKH beneficiaries. I was questioning how the central government can decide who the poor are. Why were they not invited to consult with since they know their people, they know who the one

Story 10

INVITED TO A FIGHT FROM A VILLAGE HEAD

By Deswandi,PKH facilitator, Kampar sub district, District Kampar, Riau

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Story 10 – Invited To A Fight From A Village Head

head of a village argued with me because only small numbers of his villagers become PKH beneficiaries. I was worried and I went with my friend, facilitator Ms. Ramianis, to his house to explain. Eventually, this head of village can understand and support and ready to facilitate us for a validation process through first meeting session with his people. Some villages are against this program because they said if this program cannot benefit all the villagers, it is better not to implement PKH in their areas since it will cause conflict among the villagers. We have to convince them with our best skills. And at the end, heads of villages can understood the program and accepted it happily and peacefully.

The following is my experience in how the midwives can support the verification. I usually begin my conversation by admiring their work, I make jokes and I do an informal awareness rising of the PKH. At the end of the day, they like to support the PKH work. My experience in relation to the education sector has gone smoothly since my background as a teacher. However, one time I had a disagreement with one head of a school. One of parents said that they have not received any assistance from PKH, even though she does. Head of school wanted to report my case to the head of the regional office of social affairs. Luckily my friend facilitator, Mr. Marthadi, who used to go to that school found out that the she has lied since she could not pay the school fee and she wanted other program to fulfil that.

What is great about this work are the group-meetings that I have to attend. Bearing into mind in one village we have one to four group meetings. I enjoy the discussions and many of them treat me like I am their advisor. In addition, the food they serve in these meetings are great. I give advice to them, I motivate them to send their children to school and health centre. I feel my life is important to others.

Data closing is the most tiring activity because we have to pay attention to the accuracy of the data and often the internet network is having trouble. Nevertheless, after the money disbursement to the beneficiaries, I felt good as a facilitator. Similarly, my beneficiaries are very happy to get money.

In conclusion, I would like to say that the success of the PKH program depends on good team work between facilitators and operators, also good communication with other sectors, as well as the patience and creativity of the facilitators in providing quality services to beneficiaries, including to education and health services staff.

Translator: Angel N. Manembu32

Story 11 – “Sorry Miss, I Have Lots Of Kids”: (Inspired By Triwardani – An Rtsm In Semuluh Kidul)

Story 11

“SORRY MISS, I HAVE LOTS OF KIDS”: (Inspired by Triwardani – an RTSM in Semuluh Kidul)

By Deswandi,PKH facilitator, Kampar sub district, District Kampar, Riau

Sorry Miss, I have a lot of kids

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Tri Wardani, is a member of PKH from Semuluh Kidul village, Ngeposari. She works as a weaving labourer to make bags and baskets from water hyacinth with a daily wage of 6,000 rupiahs a day. Her husband is only a part time worker at a sound system rental with uncertain income. Tri has 7 kids, and most of them are still under the age of 5. The eldest kid, Rizki, has a misbehaviour problem at school, as he is rough and violence towards his school friends. At a point of time, some of PKH member informed me, Tri was pregnant again after just delivering a baby. But she refused to check on her pregnancy to the nearby puskesmas (community health centre). The school also reported to me that Rizki was on strike from school for being accused of theft.

Since rumours spread widely in the community, I came to clarify things with Tri along with the PKH group leader. I came to Tri and confronted the rumours. She was a bit frightened to admit that she was pregnant. She covered up the story since she was embar-rassed for people to gossip that she doesn’t have a good income to raise her family. She also stated that she was going to give away the baby once born to a relative in Palembang.

Story 11 – “Sorry Miss, I Have Lots Of Kids”: (Inspired By Triwardani – An Rtsm In Semuluh Kidul)

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I tried to comfort her and told her to think over the matter clearly. I tried to suggest to her that she needed to check her pregnancy regularly at the puskesmas. At first, Tri refused, saying she never consulted any midwives/doctors on her previous pregnancies, and she still delivered healthy babies. I explained further to her that she might get a benefit deduction sanction if she insisted on not having her pregnancy checked up. Since she was in need of funds, she finally followed her commitment to follow all the PKH rules.

Still, her intention to give away her un-born baby for adoption occupied me, as it might be one of baby trafficking. I came again to Tri and asked her in more detail about her plan. After a long discussion, I understood that the relative she mentioned earlier was only a distant relative in her family. I gave her a brief explanation about the risk and the worst possibilities for putting her baby up for adoption.

Eventually, I had to leave Tri’s house in disappointment, for I could not keep Rizki on the recipient list for PKH benefits. I felt relief knowing that the rest of his family would still get the support. Before leaving, I asked Tri to get on the birth control program when she apologized for all the things that had happened, “I’m sorry mam, for I have lots of kids.”

Translator: Sari

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Story 12 – PKH Beneficiaries Were Worried Of Political Interest

PKH is a poverty alleviation program established in 2007. It aims to improve the quality of life of the poorest households through providing conditional cash transfers. Kampar district started the PKH program in 2010.

As we know, the validation process is the first stage of PKH implementation. Many beneficiary candidates think that the validation process is only for political interest and not more. The villagers have gone through so many data validation exercises, so they did not understand the goals and objectives of this validation.

Besides that, many members of community were not included in this data validation. They questioned as to why there were not in the list. We can understand why they think this way since they did not know that PKH is not for all the people in the village, but for the poorest households. Many people were so proud if they received assistance, even though they are not poor.

PKH facilitators need to response positively to these challenges. The PKH facilitators should not think that working for this program is only a place for work after university, but it is a noble task to implement PKH since this program is to empower the powerless.

PKH’s success is a facilitator success. With seriousness and sincerity of facilitators and competent stakeholders, this programme will lead to poverty alleviation. The implementation of PKH can be a cause of poverty alleviation.

Nowadays, in line with fund disbursement activities and community empowerment concepts, PKH Program has become a noble program in the middle of communities, especially for those who are very poor.

Translator: Angel N. Manembu

PKH BENEFICIARIES WERE WORRIED OF POLITICAL INTEREST

By: Doni MaryandiPKH Facilitator in Sub District XIII, KOTO KAMPAR- Kampar District Riau

Story 12

"�is booklet has been supported by GIZ-supported Social Protection Programme, BAPPENAS and AusAID.�e analysis, results and recommendations in this paper are not necessarily representative of the position of the GIZ,

the German Government, the Government of Indonesia and AusAID."

Documents

Twinkle of Happiness1