"Kartini" Center Provides Social Assistance for Poor Communities

TEMANGGUNG (May 21, 2020) - The “Kartini” Social Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (BBRSPDI) in Temanggung distributed basic needs social assistance for neglected people, namely groups of poor, vulnerable, and marginalized people who have difficulties surviving due to being affected by COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic situation continues to signify people who are infected with fluctuating numbers. Along with the moment of Ramadan and before the Eid Al-Fitr, the trend of neglected people has increased. Persons with disabilities as a vulnerable group such as persons with intellectual, physical, mental, and sensory disabilities also feel the impact that hit Indonesia.

A total of 769 basic needs social assistance packages worth Rp300,000 consisting of rice, cooking oil, biscuits, instant noodles, canned sardines, eggs, soap, and laundry soap will be distributed to 8 districts/cities, namely: Temanggung Regency (201 packages), Wonosobo Regency (133 packages), Banjarnegara Regency (70 packages), Purworejo Regency (95 packages), Kendal Regency (65 packages), Semarang Regency (61 packages), Magelang Regency (61 packages), Magelang City (83 packages). In the social assistance package, BBRSPDI “Kartini” Temanggung also donated Batik Ciprat masks to social assistance recipients.

Located at the Temanggung State Special School (SLB), the Head of BBRSPDI “Kartini” in Temanggung, Langgeng Setiawan, symbolically handed over social assistance package which was received by representatives of the Temanggung State Special School, Melati Temanggung Special School, the Indonesian Association of Persons with Disabilities (PPDI) Temanggung, and POT Bina Harapan Temanggung Regional Coordinator. “This basic needs social assistance is provided to those affected by COVID-19, especially the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized people, as well as persons with disabilities,” said Langgeng in his remarks.

Furthermore, all of these basic needs assistance will be distributed to each assistance recipient. The delivery of social assistance to other districts/cities will be carried out according to schedule and in coordination with the Provincial and District/City Social Service Offices as well as local Welfare Institutions (LKS).

The Head of the Temanggung Regency Social Service, Prasojo, was also present at this social assistance distribution activity. “The Social Service of Temanggung Regency would like to thank the “Kartini” Center for Persons with Disabilities in Temanggung for paying attention to persons with disabilities in Temanggung Regency by providing these basic food packages, this assistance will surely be of great benefit to them,” said Prasojo.

The Head of the Indonesian Persons with Disabilities Association (PPDI) in Temanggung Regency, Nanang Ariyanto, also attended the distribution of social assistance today. Nanang, on behalf of his colleagues, said that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to make persons with disabilities have even more limited activities, especially in making a living. “I am representing my friends, we would like to thank the “Kartini” Center for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities for the assistance, we are greatly helped,” continued Nanang.

This assistance is different from the Family Hope Program (PKH) assistance, Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT), or Cash Social Assistance (BST). The basic needs social assistance distributed by the “Kartini” Center for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities in Temanggung are a budget refocusing, it is in accordance with the Circular Letter of the Director General of Social Rehabilitation Number 16/1/KS.02.01/4/2020 on Budget Refocusing for Basic Needs of Neglected Residents.

This social assistance is expected to be able to help groups of neglected people because of COVID-19, so they can survive amid this pandemic situation and win these challenges and trials in the end.