Comprehensive Bill to Address the Underprivileged

The House of Representatives has passed a Bill on Assisting the Underprivileged (Penanganan Fakir Miskin /“Bill”), to create a comprehensive and coordinated system to address the needs of the underprivileged, since existing legislation was incomplete and scattered in various regulations. The Bill includes provisions on rights and responsibilities, handling the underpriviliged, duties and powers, resources, coordination and supervision, community participation, and sanctions.

Article 1(1) defines an underprivileged person (fakir miskin) as  a person who does not have a source of livelihood and/or has a livelihood  but does not have the ability to meet the basic needs of himself and/or his family. Assisting the underprivileged is defined as  a directed, integrated, and sustainable effort conducted by the government, local governments, and/ or the community in the form of policies, programs and activities such as empowerment, mentoring, and facilitation to meet the basic needs of every citizen (Article 1(2)). Basic needs include food, clothing, housing, health, education, employment, and/or social services (Article 1(3), and elaborated on in Article 3 of rights of the underprivileged).