Jakarta – A majority of people feel the government does not care enough about the welfare of the nation's veterans, according to a poll conducted by Kompas daily.
The online survey, conducted from May 19 to 23, found that 64.3 percent of 515 respondents polled across 26 provinces in Indonesia felt that veterans and their families were not properly looked after, with only 18.2 percent respondents saying they were quite well-off.
Moreover, 56.3 respondents believed that the government did do enough to secure the livelihoods of the country's veterans, kompas.com reported while citing the survey, which had a margin of error of 4.65 percent.
They highlighted three basic needs of veterans that were insufficiently met.
Some 35.5 percent of respondents said that veterans were not properly housed, while 27.5 percent touched on the need for food assistance and 21.3 percent highlighted the issue of access to proper health care.
The government increased the amount of financial aid for veterans on January 2018, with veterans and family members of veterans who have been granted posthumous awards receiving Rp 938,000 (US$65.98) per month.
Moreover, veterans also receive a monthly allowance ranging from Rp 1.5 million to Rp 2 million.
However, many believe that the assistance is still not enough to support veterans and that the country should do more to improve their welfare.
Ninety-five percent of respondents agreed that veterans should not have to pay Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) premiums. Meanwhile, 70.1 percent of respondents suggested that veterans should get free public transportation access.
Furthermore, 75.4 percent respondents agreed that veterans should be exempt from land and building tax (PBB), which has been granted by several regional administrations, including the Jakarta administration.
Through Jakarta Gubernatorial Regulation No. 42/2019, veterans are one of the groups who are not required to pay PBB on their properties, and are allowed to release at least one asset from tax liabilities. (dpk)