Handing Over ATENSI in Yogyakarta, Diah Pitaloka: Hopefully It Will be Useful for Future Leaders of the Nation

YOGYAKARTA (8 October 2021) – The Ministry of Social Affairs handed over Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) support during a working visit by members of Commission VIII DPR RI at the Aisyiyah Orphanage in D.I. Yogyakarta. The assistance provided was worth a total of Rp. 1,177,803,000,-.

This ATENSI was handed over to orphans, fatherless and motherless whose parents died due to Covid-19, people with disabilities, the elderly, and victims of drug abuse. The beneficiaries come from several regions, namely Sleman, Kulon Progo, Gunung Kidul, Bantul and Yogyakarta City.

One of the beneficiaries who received special attention due to the current emergency conditions, namely orphans whose parents died due to Covid-19.

Since August 9, 2021, Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini has sent letters to all Regents/Mayors in Indonesia to collect data on children whose parents died due to Covid-19, and the data is submitted to the Ministry of Social Affairs.

As of October 7, 2021, the Ministry of Social Affairs has received 37,974 data on orphans. COVID-19 affected orphans from 34 provinces. After verification and validation of data, there are 29,030 orphans affected by Covid-19 were screened from 34 provinces.

As of October 7, 2021, a total of 2,252 children have been given ATENSI support in the form of savings account worth Rp. 200 thousand/month for school children and Rp. 300 thousand/month for children not yet in school. In addition, children are also provided with basic needs and nutrition assistance.

ATENSI for orphans whose parents died due to Covid-19 was distributed directly by Social Minister Risma in several areas, including the districts of Bandung, Jember, Aceh, Pekanbaru, Banjarbaru, Semarang, Kendal, Gorontalo, Manado, and Takalar Makassar.

This ATENSI is to support the fulfillment of a decent life so that children can grow and develop optimally, strengthen the responsibility of parents and families in fulfilling children's rights, provide and facilitate alternative care/nurture and increase the accessibility of children to maintain their survival optimally.

"Thank God, it can be realized in the form of savings for orphans whose parents died due to Covid-19. This is our collective struggle," said Diah Pitaloka, Member of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives in front of the children receiving ATENSI savings.

Diah Pitaloka also added that it is hoped that this assistance will continue and can benefit the future of children as future leaders of the nation.

The same thing was conveyed by the Head of the D.I Yogyakarta Provincial Social Service, Endang Patmintarsih who welcomed the ATENSI program. "We are ready to support programs at the Ministry of Social Affairs, one of which is ATENSI for children whose parents have died because of Covid-19," she said.

Provincial Government of D.I. Yogyakarta hopes that this assistance will continue, considering that during the pandemic social welfare problems are growing. Handling from the government is needed, one of which is from the Ministry of Social Affairs in collaboration with the Provincial Social Service of D.I. Yogyakarta through the ATENSI program.

Chelsia, a child beneficiary who is in grade 1 of SMK said that she is happy to get attention from the government. He will continue to be passionate about learning for her dream of becoming an entrepreneur.

"I want to be successful, and make my younger siblings successful as well. Father's message that I always remember is never angry with them. It means that he wants me to take good care of them," she said with a touch of emotion.

This ATENSI program is managed by the Technical Implementation Units of the Ministry of Social Affairs, namely Antasena Magelang, Inten Soeweno Bogor, Kartini Temanggung, Prof. Dr. Soeharso Surakarta, Margo Laras Pati, Satria Baturraden and Melati Jakarta.

This activity was attended by members of Commission VIII DPR RI, the D.I. Yogyakarta Provincial Social Service Office and the UPT Ministry of Social Affairs in Central Java.