Basic Food Social Assistance Reaches Art Workers

JAKARTA (Juni 22th 2020) -  Basic Food Social Assistance from the President through the Ministry of Social Affairs targets art workers, including film and theater.

The Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari P. Batubara realized that artistic activities 'stagnated' during the COVID-19 pandemic. This makes workers in these fields unproductive.

"Of course, we know that during the pandemic this art activity has stopped, so quite a lot of our brothers and sisters are no longer earning," said Juliari at the Haji Umar Ismail Film Building, South Jakarta, Monday (22/6).

The Minister of Social Affairs, who was present accompanied by the Director General of Social Protection and Security, Pepen Nazaruddin, and the Minister's Special Advisor, Erwin Tobing, handed over 2,576 food packages to the C'nior Community for 43 communities of arts, film and theater workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I am sure, there are not a few people who support their families from the art world. This is a very noble job because it entertains many people," said the Minister of Social Affairs.

They have entertained us, he said, they really deserve to be helped. For this reason, the state is obliged to present and help the affected communities.

"When they are in difficult situation, now it’s our turn to help them, it has to be reciprocal, you know," said Juliari, who admitted that he began to miss 'watching movies in the cinema' as his entertainment.

The Minister of Social affairs that a request for the proposal of social assistance came from the C'nior Community as the coordinator of the basic food social assistance for other arts workers.

"The proposal (came) from the community driven by seniors in the art industry, such as Mrs. Yessy Gusman, Mr. Deddy Mizwar, and Mr. Rano Karno. They proposed and we immediately responded," he explained.

Art Workers’ Expressions

Meanwhile, the handover of Basic Food Assistance was represented by two veteran actors, Deddy Mizwar and Yessy Gusman, who have been here and there across the world of entertainment.

Deddy Mizwar, who is also the Chairman of the Indonesian Film Companies Association (PPFI), said that assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs is felt to be very useful for art, film and terater workers during the pandemic.

"Almost all artistic activities, including films, stop completely, so the benefits are of course very significant," said the main actor in the soap opera Para Pencari Tuhan.

Given the tremendous impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the art industry, his party hopes that films will be included in industrial activities that are allowed to be active again.

So, he added, the movement of the arts can rise again as before, of course, by still paying attention to health protocols.

Not to forget, representing art workers, the man who once served as Deputy Governor of West Java for the 2013-2018 period expressed his appreciation for the Minister's willingness to remember the existence of art industry players.

"Thank you, the Minister and all ranks, of the millions of people who need help, he still remembers film and art actors," said Deddy to Social Minister Juliari who was greeted by thundering applause from the artists.