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R, the boy, smiled shyly when the Minister of Social Affairs talked to him and gave him toys.
"Later, we'll go to Solo, if you want," said the Minister of Social Affairs to which the youngest child of four siblings nodded. Social Minister with Indragiri Hulu Regent Rezita Meilani Yopi and Head of Indragiri Hulu Police AKBP Bachtiar Alponso visited R, at his aunt's rented house on Jalan Candirejo Pasir Turtle, Indragiri Hulu Regency, Riau Province, Thursday (3/11).
R was a victim of physical abuse by his stepfather. Apart from being abused, R also suffered from a withered paralysis which made him unable to walk. In her statement to the media crew, Social Minister Risma said that empathy was the reason for her visit to Candirejo, an area located 174 km from Pekanbaru City.
"If it had happened to us, what would it have been like? That's what brought me here," she said in response to journalists' questions. The Ministry of Social Affairs, said Risma, will facilitate physical therapy for R at the Center owned by the Ministry of Social Affairs in Solo, considering that R is unable to walk and has difficulty speaking like children his age.
"Well, later we will take R to Solo for therapy. Hopefully with therapy, R can walk. Then, there will be speech therapy so that R can be normal," he said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Affairs through the ‘Abiseka’ Center in Pekanbaru has assisted worth IDR 19 million to R and his family. Assistance in the form of residential services in the form of safe houses, physical recovery, and psychological counseling to recover from trauma, such as play therapy.
R and his older brother N (12) were also given basic food packages, nutrition, hygiene kits educational games, and a bicycle for N to go to school.
Apart from that, the aunt who cared for R and N was also given intervention through Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) assistance in the form of capital business assistance. This was given based on the results of an assessment of R's aunt, namely Nelmiati.
Every day, this middle-aged woman works as a masseuse with an irregular income. Therefore, on instructions from the Minister of Social Affairs, his aunt was given business capital at home while caring for R and his other siblings.
When met, Nelmiati expressed her gratitude to those who had helped her niece, including herself.
"Since I was given a stalled business last October, now I can put the money back for capital. Thank God, I can meet the needs of people at home," he said.
Previously, R's case went viral in the media after he received physical violence from his stepfather, and was then abandoned by his birth mother in the hospital.
R suffered bruises all over his body as a result of the violence he experienced. R was slapped in the face using a sandal, strangled, and slashed until he was stepped on his back and right leg. The area near his genitals was also burned by cigarettes, causing bruises and wounds all over his body.
R's case was reported by his aunt to the Riau Police and has received treatment. Meanwhile, R's stepfather and biological mother have been arrested. After receiving rehabilitation at the ‘Abiseka’ center in Pekanbaru, at this time, R was returned to his family and raised by his aunt.
Public Relations Bureau
Ministry of Social Affairs
