MINISTER LAUNCHES LAST PHASE OF E-WARONG PILOT PROJECT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Jan 28 (Antara) - Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa in Jambi on Friday launched the last phase of the electronic warong (e-warong) pilot project, an electronic grocery store introduced by the government for social assistance recipients since mid-2016.          The government has decided to change the mechanism of its social assistance distribution system from cash-based to cashless through the e-warong project in a bid to prevent disparity in distribution, both in terms of quality and quantity.          Hence, the government was planning to launch at least 300 e-warong across the country designed to serve social assistance beneficiaries. All commodities offered by the shops will be supplied by the State Logistics Board Bulog.          Through the pilot project, the government will no longer conduct cash transactions for distributing the benefits of the Prosperous Family Card (KKS) to its holders. Recipients can use the card at the e-warong to avail social assistance to obtain sugar, cooking oil, and wheat.