Fulfilling the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Minister of Social Affairs Launches “Indonesia Hears” Program

BALEENDAH (January 9^th, 2022) – Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini launches “Indonesia Hears” Program, and also distributes social assistance to beneficiaries in Baleendah, Bandung Regency.

 “Indonesia Hears” Program is a part of “Indonesia Hears”, “Indonesia Sees”, and ‘Indonesia Walks”, aimed at persons with disabilities. This program is the realization of the efforts made by Ministry of Social Affairs to actualize the rights of persons with disabilities.

 Quoting Social Economic National Survey (Susenas) done by Statistics Indonesia (BPS) in 2020, Minister of Social Affairs says that there are 22,97 million persons with disabilities in Indonesia. “Our brothers’ and sisters’ disabilities cause them the lack of access to information and communication, and also access to other basic services,” Minister of Social Affairs says in Basketball Sports Hall in Baleendah District, Bandung Regency on January 8^th.

 Through “Indonesia Hears” Program, Ministry of Social Affairs help persons with hearing disabilities and the elderly by giving them hearing aids, and smartphone that can transcribe voices into letters. Thus, persons with disabilities can read their interlocutor’s message.

 “The program runs under Commission VIII’s support which gives freedom to Ministry of Social Affairs to arrange the budget. Then, we allocate the budget to aid’ procurement. There are about 3.400 units of aid that we distribute to the needy,” Minister of Social Affairs says with the vice chairman of Commission VIII Tb Ace Hasan Syadzily.

Minister of Social Affairs hopes that by using the aids, persons with disabilities can be more independent. “Furthermore, they can improve their access to productive activities and improve their financial capacity next,” he said.

On the same occasion, Ace Hasan says “Indonesia Hears” Program launched by Ministry of Social Affairs is a positive breakthrough. “Not all persons with disabilities have access to aids. With this program, the access can be better,” he said.

The program also proves that the state is present. Since a community group has a limitation, its social function is strengthened. “Commission VIII is very supportive of the program, budget-wise and program-wise. We hope that this kind of program will encourage the community to have the same opportunity,” he said.

The launching of “Indonesia Hears” Program is also held simultaneously in other 28 areas. The representation of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives is planned to be presented in 13 of the areas. Ministry of Social Affairs through Integrated Center/Center and Training Center prepared 262 accessibility assistance for persons with hearing and speech disabilities, consisting of hearing aids, talking phones/smartphones equipped with instant transcript applications, tablets, and talking laptops equipped with Jaws application and also whistle.

In addition, Ministry of Social Affairs also distributes 456 tools and equipment in the form of adaptive walking sticks, smart sticks, wheelchairs, kids’ wheelchairs, crutches, tripod sticks, prosthetic legs, entrepreneurship assistance, 2-in-one wheelchairs, laptops, printers, tablet, cellular phone repairment tools, and also three-wheeled motorcycles. The accessibility assistance is accepted by a total of 718 beneficiaries.

On the same occasion, Minister of Social Affairs also visited social granaries built in Bandung Regency, which is in Baleendah District, Bojongsoang Regency, and Dayeuh Kolot District with a total assistance of 379,858,131 IDR.

 Minister of Social Affairs states that the people who live in disaster areas are at risk of incapability to access logistics assets. Social granaries are built to ensure that the people who live in disaster areas will have access to life necessities. “So, this is an anticipation. With social granaries in some disaster spots, the people can be independent,” she said.

 Ace Hasan supports Minister of Social Affairs’ effort to build social granaries. With the construction of social granaries, it is hoped that people’s preparedness in disaster areas will improve. “They can be independent without waiting for the state or province’s assistance,” he said.

 Ace asks Bandung Regional Government to map the disaster spots with the type of disaster that struck. It’s a must to build a social granary in the landslide disaster area. “Because the possibility of inaccessible is quite high. Make sure to have evacuation and shelter spots. We should build the granary there,” he said.