Elderly in Dharmasraya was Crying Tears of Joy while Receiving RST from MoSA

DHARMASRAYA (JUNE 7, 2023) - Sumarni (52) could not stop saying thank you. She repeated those two mustajab words. She mentioned all the names, starting from the Minister of Social Affairs, the Regent of Dharmasraya, the Wali Nagari, the Social Worker, to the companion who proposed her husband's name to be one of the recipients of the Integrated Welfare House (RST).

Her tone was high, her voice sobbing, holding back the rumbling in her chest. Her happiness was expressed with emotion. She had never received as much assistance as she got this time. Moreover, she will soon live in a new concrete-walled house with proper toilet and kitchen facilities.

"We thank you very much, this is what we want as long as we live, ma'am, there is nothing like this as long as we live in a household," she said emotionally.

The assistance received was not only house repairs, but also the furnitures. The resident of Jorong Sipangkur, Tiumang Subdistrict, Dharmasraya Regency could not hide her emotion and excitement when she saw several items delivered to her house. There were mattresses, cabinets, gas stoves, and other household appliances.

Sumarni's husband, Wiji Wiryo (66) was chosen as one of the recipients of RST assistance in the framework of the National Elderly Day (HLUN) in Dharmasraya. Every day, Pak Wiji, his nickname, works as a casual daily labourer, occasionally helping in the rice fields to earn extra money.

His income from work certainly cannot repair his house. As a result, the RST assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs can make his wish come true. Mr. Wiji even participated in the construction of his house which was carried out independently.

Apart from Mr. Wiji, there are 54 other elderly people in Dharmasraya who received RST assistance. One of them is Grandma Halimah, a resident of Jorong Kampung Baru, Koto Salak Village, Koto Salak District.  Halimah lives alone in a plank house that measures no more than 12 meters. There is only one room used for sleeping, receiving guests and eating. There is no attic to keep out the hot sun in Dharmasraya. The cots are worn out, the mattresses are shabby.

There is no kitchen, no proper restrooms. If she wanted to relieve herself, she would go to a neighbor. As for cooking, this 73-year-old grandmother has to leave the house and cook herself next to the house with a fire that she makes from burning wood. Her body is already decrepit, shrinking and slightly bent. Of course, she is unable to blow the reed to enlarge the fire that roasts her cauldron.

Grandma Halimah has no children, while her husband died a long time ago. Luckily there is a nephew who lives close to her house who always helps if there is a need. However, her niece cannot help much because she is not well off. Loneliness dampened her spirit. When the Facilitator came to the house, she did not expect her house to be repaired.

"What is the use of a house, soon you will die," she said at the time.

However, her resignation slowly changed when she saw her house being built until it was finished. He smiled as his house stood majestically. The building consists of one bedroom, a toilet and a kitchen.

Her old cots have now turned into spring mattresses, and her ceiling is no longer hot. The dirt floor has been replaced by tiles. Through ATENSI, Grandma Halimah no longer needs to blow reeds to make a fire, because it is replaced by a gas stove.  For entertainment, the Ministry of Social Affairs completes the assistance with a TV and digital antenna and a guest sofa. Grandmother received the contents of the house in the form of cabinets, rice cookers, fans and other utensils. Now, in her old age, Grandma Halimah can relax in her house comfortably.

Next, there is Mr. Rusli, a resident of Jorong Tanjung Salilok, Sikabau Village, Pulau Punjung District, Dharmasraya Regency. This 78-year-old man also lives alone at home. Mr. Rusli earns a living by gardening. Just like Pak Wiji and Grandma Halimah, Pak Rusli relies on the Family Hope Program (PKH) assistance and basic food assistance for his daily meals.

The money is given to his son to buy ingredients and make some food. Mr. Rusli is already old, but he can still do kitchen work. For drinking, he can cook his own water in the stove.  His son also lives next door and has repeatedly invited him to live with him, but he is reluctant and chooses to live alone in a weathered plank house.

The tin roof that shelters her house has holes in several corners. Scattered wood makes his house look messy. However, that was the condition of Mr. Rusli's house in the past. After receiving RST assistance, Mr. Rusli's house is very much different. If his house used to be without toilets, now the bathroom is installed with a toilet seat. This is because Mr. Rusli once fell which made it difficult for his legs to support his body.

In addition to the house, Mr. Rusli received mattresses, beds (low), pillows, mattress bases, cloth cabinets, guest chairs, dish racks, eating utensils, cooking utensils, floor mats, brooms, mops, trash cans, toiletries and window curtains.

"Alhamdulillah, it's comfortable!" he said about the current condition of his house. Mr. Rusli, not only received attention from the Ministry of Social Affairs, but also from the Regent of Dharmasraya Sutan Riska Tuanku Kerajaan who directly laid the first stone of the construction of Mr. Rusli's house on 16 May 2023.

RST is a gift for the elderly in Dharmasraya in order to celebrate the National Elderly Day (HLUN) in Dharmasraya on May 29, 2023. As directed by Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini, the HLUN celebration should not only be a ceremonial event but through concrete actions to provide assistance to the elderly.

The Ministry of Social Affairs built 55 RST for the elderly in 11 sub-districts in Dharmasraya. Each received cash assistance of IDR 20 million which was used to repair the house. To reduce costs, the houses were built independently by the Disaster Voluntary Worker (Tagana) and the local community.