NUNUKAN (January 25, 2023) - Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini visited Atap Village in Sembakung District, Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan, Tuesday (24/1). Her arrival was carried out to fulfill promises based on three requests from residents at the Nunukan border as conveyed when reviewing floods in this area exactly a year ago.

The three promises are assistance for clean water management installations, school building repair, and school buses.

"I still remember very well the request of the residents of Atap Village, when I visited here in 2022. That's why today I came here to fulfill my promise," said Social Affairs Minister Risma in Atap Village, Nunukan, Tuesday (24/1).

As is known, the former number one person in Surabaya visited Atap Village, Nunukan, in January 2022. At that time, this village was hit by a major flood.

To the Minister of Social Affairs, residents complained about the difficult access to clean water. The Minister of Social Affairs also highlighted the stagnation of the teaching and learning process because school buildings were flooded.

Hereafter, Risma instructed her staff to pursue the residents' requests. "One of their complaints is difficult access to clean water. We will try to get clean water here. Then, we will repair schools that have been flooded," she said.

According to her, Atap Village, a frontier, outermost and least developed region (3T) area, still needs to prioritize its welfare.

"We also handle frontier, outermost, and underdeveloped areas. We are concentrating on the welfare of the people here because Atap Village is a border area," said Risma.

Then, Risma wants the village to be supported by adequate lighting. For this reason, she also equipped this area with lighting from solar cells.

Even so, Risma admitted several requests from residents that the Ministry of Social Affairs could not fulfill because it was not within the authority or work area of ​​the Ministry of Social Affairs, such as the construction of damaged roads.

"Earlier there were several requests, which I think are very logical, especially for road infrastructure. However, because that is not our main task, I will try to communicate with the PUPR Ministry or other related parties," she said.

Meanwhile, Commission VI DPR RI Deddy Yevri Hanteru Sitorus, who accompanied the Minister of Social Affairs to Atap Village, expressed his appreciation for the Ministry of Social Affairs' commitment to fulfill its promise to border residents in Atap Village, Nunukan Regency.

"This is a concrete form of state presence in border areas that we should appreciate. The Minister has done many things, firstly, related to flood management. She comes here regularly," said Deddy.

It had been confirmed that clean water would be supplied to residents' homes. Therefore, the high school building will now no longer be flooded.

However, Deddy asked the public to understand that several requests cannot be fulfilled. "Several requests will be explored and reconsidered, especially in the common interest," he said.

Inauguration of clean water management installations, school repairs, and school bus transportation for Atap Village residents distributed by the Ministry of Social Affairs with a total value of IDR4,758,148,000.

This assistance includes the installation of solar cells at the Atap Village Office, clean water installations (water storage tanks, piping, reverse osmosis machines, and profiling tanks), and providing cars as a means of transportation.

In addition, the Minister of Social Affairs also handed over 10 desktop PC units for schools worth IDR145,000,000 and 200 basic food packages worth IDR40,000,000 distributed through the Directorate General of Social Empowerment.

Meanwhile, Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) assistance for beneficiaries in Atap Village consists of 150 packs of school bags, stationery, and cleaning supplies, six wheelchairs, mattresses, nutrition, and clothing for people with disabilities and the elderly, as well as entrepreneurial assistance for two families of people with disabilities. This assistance worth IDR137,259,500 was distributed through the "Budi Luhur" Center in Banjar Baru.

Public Relations Bureau
The Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs