By Marriage Isbat, Ministry of Social Affairs Strengthen Elderly’s Dignity and Prosperity

DHARMASRAYA, MONDAY (JUNE 5^TH, 2023) – Exceptional appellant and plaintiff come to the Religious Affairs Court of Pulau Punjung Subdistrict, Dharmasraya Regency, West Sumatra on Monday (May 22^nd) morning. They are eight elderly couples attending Marriage Isbat (confirmation of marriage) Trial.

The couples come from Tebing Tinggi Subdistrict, an area quite far from the district capital. Most of the couples are farmers working in the fields.

One of the couples attending Marriage Isbat Trial is Hasan (82) and Fatima (69). They have been married for 25 years, but they aren’t registered officially, which is also called unregistered marriage. Led by a single judge, M. Rifai, S.H., Hasan – Fatima couple are officially husband and wife registered in state documents. The couple agrees to tie the knot after the divorce with the previous spouse due to their partner’s death.

The couple wants to make their marriage legal before the state due to encouragement from the elderly companion of the Ministry of Social Affairs. By registering the marriage legally, the state could give assistance.

“I’m glad to be legally married to my wife,” Hasan says after hearing the court decision. The social assistance that can be given to the elderly is food assistance, Family Hope Program, and Non-Cash Food Assistance Program/Basic Food card. “We are very grateful if we are able to get assistance. My family and I never get any assistance so far,” she says.

The couple will be able to administer the population data in order to get social assistance by using the court decision letter issued after Isbat Trial. Hasan is grateful that he could experience the state assistance of catering to his need in his old days.

Hasan and Fatima didn’t register their marriage because they don’t really understand the administrative process. The Judge reminds them about the importance of registering the marriage legally in order to validate their descendants’ legal status and avoid inheritance conflict.

Another elderly couple, Ibrahim (73) and Keniang (61) comes with a different story. They are unofficially married from the beginning. Single Judge, Afif Waldy S.H., decides that the couple is finally legally married. “I was nervous, but thanks God, I’m married legally,” Keniang says after leaving the courtroom.

Entering the courtroom and becoming an appellant are new things for her. She claims that she didn’t answer the questions fluently when the judge asked her about her marriage chronology. Keniang and Ibrahim work together in their field together. Until that day, their status in the family register is “marriage has not been registered”.

Keniang and Ibrahim didn’t register their marriage because Religious Affairs Office (KUA) is located very far and there was only one in Sungai Dareh area.

The judge reminds the elderly couple to register the marriage legally and by residential status in order to validate their descendants’ legal status and the residential documents can be used to administer the administration needed.

Keniang claims that she never heard about the residential documents should match and be registered in order to get social assistance. After finding out from the elderly companion of Padang Social Welfare Education and Training Center (BBPPKS Padang), she is willing to attend Integrated Marriage Isbat.

Ministry of Social Affairs’ National Elderly Day

Integrated Marriage Isbat is a part of many activities to commemorate National Elderly Day (HLUN) which is commemorated on May 29th each year. Having a theme of “Well-Cared Elderly, Dignified Indonesia”, the main event of 2023 National Elderly Day is held in Dharmasraya Regency, West Sumatra Province on May 29th, 2023.

Marriage Isbat Court is held in three days from May 22nd, 25th, and 29th in commemoration of the 27th National Elderly Day in 2023. 35 couples attend the event.