Colorful Jukung at Floating Market Celebrates LBKS 2019

BANJAR, SOUTH KALIMANTAN (December 18th 2019) - A total of more than 150 Jukung with colorful decorations marched across martapura river, Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan Province, Wednesday (18/12) morning local time.

Today, the The Cross Border Social Solidarity (LBKS) 2019 event organized by the Ministry of Social Affairs has reached the 5th etape.

The LBKS group together used jukung down the river from Lokbaintan Jetty, Banjar Regency to Point Zero KM Banjarmasin City. Jukung is a traditional wooden boat that becomes a means of river transportation in South Kalimantan. In addition, jukung is also used by traders to sell in Banjarmasin Floating Market.

Joining the LBKS expedition team's 2019 trip are mothers selling food, vegetables, and fruits that are used to sell at Floating Market. They are the recipients of social assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs in the form of jukung and umbrellas placed on their jukung.

"Out of a total of six etapes in LBKS 2019, only in this 5th etape whose route shrinks the river. The other five etapes took a land line. Of course, this is very special and most unique because we are going down the Martapura River which is often used for people trading on jukung," said the Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari P. Batubara through the Director General of Social Protection and Security, Harry Hikmat in his speech.

The Director General said floating market in South Kalimantan Province (Kalsel), especially Banjar Regency has been going on for generations and become one of the famous tourist destinations to foreign countries.

"We cross the Martapura River and there is a mutuality of all the elements involved, both the central government, the provincial government, and the city/district government, as well as community involvement. No less than 150 jukung also delivered the Flag of Pataka (HKSN) from banjar regency to Banjarmasin city. That's where the essence of social solidarity is. There's togetherness, there's attention, and there's tolerance. All joined in vigorously," he explained.

The practice of social solidarity values in LBKS is realized in the form of outreach by sending (expeditions) land and river. The vehicle expedition team is tasked with channeling various assistance by crossing various areas in South Kalimantan.

LBKS is a series of activities ahead of the culmination of the 2019 National Social Solidarity Day (HKSN) which falls every December 20th. The LBKS expedition team traveled six etapes by relay from December 14th to 19th on the route of Tabalong Regency, Balangan Regency, Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency, Tapin Regency, Banjar Regency, and ended in Banjarmasin City.

In each LBKS 2019 etape, the Ministry of Social Affairs is supported by the local government providing a number of assistance. Especially for this 5th etape, assistance provided in the form of an Unfit Home for Living (RTLH) as many as 166 units, Glasses 200 units, Walker 8 units, 1,150 food packages, Local Wisdom Assistance 3 packages, Family Hope Program (PKH) Assistance for 13,252 KPM, Certificate of Self-Prosperous Graduation KPM Certificate, 8-unit Disability Assistance, 1-pack Logistics Assistance, and General Kitchen Motor Field 1 unit.

In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs also provides social assistance grants consisting of less able family school supplies as many as 350 packages, family sembako less than 1,050 packages, Traditional boat assistance for floating traders 25 units, RTLH 6 units, Umbrella for floating market traders 200 units.

On this occasion assistance was also given from the Ministry of Social Affairs partners in the form of granting civil rights (marriage certificate and birth certificate), Disability assistance, Reading glasses assistance for the elderly, School supplies 100 packages, Assistance to 3 groups of workshops each getting Rp50 million.

"The total value of assistance provided is approximately Rp13.4 billion," said the Director General.

Appearing in the 5th etape, Director General of Social Empowerment, Pepen Nazaruddin, the Chairperson of the 2019 LBKS, Bambang Mulyadi, Deputy Regent of Banjar, Chairman of the Banjar Regency DPRD, and all South Kalimantan Provincial SKPD officials, to the Danrem and the Banjar Police Chief.

Also present in the middle of the event, representatives of Social Solidarity partners from Social Pillars and other social volunteers. A number of institutions / foundations such as the Asia Moslem Charity Foundation (AMCF), the Pondok Kasih Foundation, the Metropolitan Peduli Foundation, the Kaki Tangan Palsu Foundation, to the SCTV Pundi Amal Peduli Kasih Foundation, as well as CSR from BRI and Bank Mandiri also attended this event.