Massage Business Room Beautified, Couple with Visual Disabilities in Bangli wants Customers can Increase Again

BANGLI (December 21st, 2022) - Ni Nyoman Ariasih's (45) hands were actively moving to feel every detail of the room. Corner by corner, the wooden bed, the foam mattress, the folds of bed sheets, and the plastic cupboard, she felt them soulfully.

There is a smile on the corner of her lips. Her eyesight may not have been able to capture what was in front of her. However, Ariasih's senses were able to convey what her eyes could not.

In the same room, her husband, I Dewa Made Alit (52), a fellow visually impaired person, appears to be doing the same thing. Feeling, making sure, while recording every location of objects in the room that in the future will be the source of his income.

"Thank God, I am very happy, I got a massage room, I got a new massage couch. I thank the Minister very much," said Ariasih, accompanied by her husband Alit.

Ariasih and Alit are a married couple with visual sensory disabilities who both work as masseurs. Both are former beneficiaries of the "Mahatmiya" center in Tabanan, Bali, in 2003. Since Monday (19/12), they officially have a new massage room.

Ariasih said that previously, the room she used to massage patients was only covered with shabby mats on a cement floor. "Here, it was messy, in front of it, the floor was still using pese (floor without tiles). When it rains, it gets wet," said the resident of Banjar Sidawa, Tamanbali Village, Bangli.

Not infrequently, patients only stop by once and never return. Yes, this is because the massage room is not clean. Now, in addition to having a new massage room, they are also equipped with mattress cots, along with massage tools from the Ministry of Social Affairs through the "Handayani" Center in Jakarta in collaboration with the Bangli Regency Social Service, Bali.

"Now it's comfortable. Yes, hopefully, our massage business will run smoothly. In the past, we could only get 2 patients a week, now, with this place, I hope to get 6 patients per day, or at least 4," he said.

Both of them also received Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs in the form of 2 Adaptive Guiding Sticks (TPA), 2 talking cellphones, as well as the fulfillment of decent living and entrepreneurship worth a total of Rp23,954,880, which was handed over directly by Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini.

In addition to handing over assistance, Social Affairs Minister Risma also had time to chat with both of them. "Many have had subscriptions, sir, ma'am," said the Minister of Social Affairs asking about the massage business they have been running since 2004.

The Minister also looked around the massage room, making sure it was fully ready to be used to welcome Ariasih and Alit's massage patients.

The Minister said that her arrival was for the National Social Solidarity Day (HKSN) in Klungkung, Bali. "This is a form of our concern. So, I want to encourage everyone to care about our environment, and the people around us," said the Minister.

The form of care can be done by spreading information if you meet people who need help around you.

"Just informing is already a form of caring. Maybe, right now, we don't need the help of others, but we don't know, someday, we will need the help of others. This means that we inspire a sense of solidarity," she said.

Regarding the intervention of this couple, previously, it was based on the results of the assessment of the Ministry of Social Affairs. As a result, there is a need for improvements to their massage business place.

"She wants a place of business. So, we are helping them with a place for massage because so far it has been here, outside," said Risma.

In addition, the government is also helping with the education of I Dewa Ayu Ratna (18), the couple's only child. Having just graduated from high school this year, Ayu Ratna will be assisted with her education to continue her studies by the Bangli Regency Social Service.

"I want to help with her education, to study in the health sector. Later, we can also help. During college, she can live in our Center, in Tabanan, Bali," said the Minister.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs