Is village fund direct cash assistance effective for the poor affected by Covid-19 in Central Java?

Abstract

This study aims to assess the government policy implementation in assisting communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the Village Fund Direct Cash Assistance (BLT DD). This research is important to assess the success of policies that have been implemented by the government in the field. Data were collected from village funds realized in the Central Java Province in 2020. The regional government's financial performance assessment was analyzed using secondary data. The validity and reliability analysis of the questionnaire data were also used to measure the performance of BLT DD management. The results of secondary data processing showed that the performance of BLT DD management is running effectively and efficiently. Meanwhile, the primary data processing results from the questionnaire indicated that the management has been going well, starting from the planning, implementation, responsibility, professionalism, and accountability stages of the village government apparatus as the spearhead of BLT DD management. The implication of the study  is the BLT DD distribution through a transfer to the bank account of each beneficiary.