At the OIC Ministerial Meeting, the Minister of Social Affairs Outline Strategies for Addressing Social Issues

Cairo (June 8, 2023) – The Indonesian government has taken a concrete initiative to improve social welfare. By way of the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA), the government develops social protection systems and policies to enhance social protection, social assurance, empowerment, and social rehabilitation for those in need of social welfare services.

The statement above is an important part of the speech by Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini at the High-Level Ministerial Meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Cairo, Egypt, on Monday (6/6). At the meeting attended by 40 delegates, Minister Risma explained the policy and program for addressing various social problems.

According to Minister Risma, to improve poverty management, the government has updated Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS) and retrieved beneficiary profile information. "At least 100 million beneficiaries have been registered on DTKS to date, including 1.04 million disabled individuals. "DTKS is cited as a reference to the implementation of the Free Health Insurance Program (PBI-JKN) and has rescued over 8,000 people from pasung (seclusion and restraint of people with mental illness)," she said at a conference titled "Social Justice and Social Security”.

DTKS is also utilized in the family hope program (Program Keluarga Harapan) and basic food assistance for impoverished families. "By 2022, we will have reached nearly 10 million families through the family hope program and 18.8 million through basic food assistance," she said.

During the pandemic, MoSA is collaborating with local administrations to implement a social protection program. In addition to PT Pos Indonesia's role as a distributor, pandemic-affected communities also received social assistance, such as direct financial assistance for the transfer of fuel subsidies and the increase in the price of cooking oil.

The MoSA introduces PENA (National Economic Hero Program) to increase the economic capacity of low-income communities. This program provides capital for businesses and increases entrepreneurial capacity. "Last year, this program improved the well-being of 10,000 families across the country," she continued. PENA assists five clusters of small businesses: culinary, handicraft, goods and services, agriculture, and farming.

The government has constructed two low-cost five-floor apartments and will expand them to at least 14 apartments in eight locations throughout Indonesia to increase the income of disadvantaged populations. "The first floor is prioritized for the elderly and the incapacitated. The monthly rent begins at Rp 10,000, or $0.7 USD per month," she explained.

The protection and fulfillment of the rights of people with disabilities also become essential concerns. MoSA authorized the gallery of the ATENSI Creation Center (Sentra Kreasi ATENSI/SKA) to increase economic independence. Some of SKA's successes include Café More in Bandung, ARTNE Coffee in Tabanan Bali, Batik Ciprat (Splashed Batik), and many others.

MoSA has taken effective steps to improve accessibility for people with disabilities by distributing adaptive smart guide sticks with innovative features such as a hot sensor, flood or water flow detector, dangerous chemical material detector, and GPS.

Nationwide, the government performs cataract surgery on a large scale, including on children. "At a single event, at least 300 children will be examined and treated, and if they are diagnosed with cataracts, they will undergo surgery immediately," stated Minister Risma. "The country wishes to increase public awareness of the rights of people with disabilities through a systemic campaign. We launch program Indonesia hears, Indonesia sees, and Indonesia walks,” she continued.

As a nation situated within the megathrust and ring of fire, the Indonesian government works to increase the disaster resilience of people with disabilities. "In disaster-prone areas, we construct large evacuation centers to support and ensure that all groups receive protection," the minister said.

"As help gets closer, people's resilience grows. The social granaries are stocked with rice, ready-to-eat food, a first aid kit, a mattress, a tent, a blanket, adult clothing, diapers, a generator, and a catapult boat," she said

MoSA also deploys 39,000 Disaster Voluntary Workers (TAGANA), which include Difagana (Difable Tagana) and other social companions who have been trained to respond rapidly. "We also have disaster alert villages spread across 936 locations in 34 provinces," she explained.