Through HAN 2022, Meratus Dayak Children Knit Hope That Can't Be Broken

BATANG ALAI TIMUR (1 August 2022) – The Ministry of Social Affairs through all Technical Directorates commemorates National Children's Day (HAN) 2022. This year's HAN Commemoration is not only centered on one location point but also other several location points, both East Lombok as the center, as well as locations of  Remote Indigenous Communities (KAT).

Raising the theme of 2022 HAN "Protected Children, Advanced Indonesia", the Minister of Social Affairs hopes that all Indonesian children, wherever they are, feel protected, so that they can be free to create, do activities and become happy children. Dayak Meratus children in Batang Alai District, Hulu Sungai Tengah are no exception.

In Batang Alai Timur District, Hulu Sungai Tengah Regency assistance in the framework of HAN 2022 assistance was provided by the Ministry of Social Affairs in the form of nutrition (milk, honey, green beans, eggs), personal hygiene equipment (toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, towels), necessities specifically for children (pampers, pads, underwear, baby equipment), children's clothing, school supplies (shoes, bags, books).

A total of 232 personal hygiene items were distributed in HAN 2022 series (toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, and towels). The equipment was given to 111 school children in the form of towels and personal hygiene, 91 to children who were not in school in the form of towels, personal hygiene & t-shirts, and to 30 (infants & toddlers) in the form of towels, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, powdered milk, honey pure, biscuits).

Meratus Dayak tribe previously received assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs including housing assistance, solar cells, corn gardening programs, chicken seeds, and fish seeds. Assistance for the Community Center consists of a sound system, cooking utensils, cutlery, and carpets. Apart from that, there is also MCK (public toilet) assistance, greenery, and solar electricity in every house.

Currently, children have easy access to lighting, because there is electricity, they can study at night, community centers as a means for residents to gather for discussions and other activities, as well as clean water facilities and toilets.

A series of HAN activities in 2022 in Batang Alai Timur District, including training to increase family capacity in preventing and dealing with stunting and recording population data for children who do not yet have a Child Identity Card (KIA) at the Batang Alai Timur sub-district office, as well as social workers going to school at SD Hinas Kiri and SMPN 25 Atap Hulu Sungai Tengah.

The series of HAN 2022 ATENSI assistance was also handed over symbolically at the Danau Canting KAT location, Hinas Kiri village. Assistance was provided for school supplies (school uniforms, shoes, and stationery), as well as assistance with personal hygiene equipment.

At the peak activity of HAN, the participants came from 4 villages, namely Danau Canting village (BAT District), the main village of Hinas Kiri, the village of Sampai (BAT District), Aniangau village (Hanntak District), the main village of Hinas Kanan, and the village of Bumbung River (Hanntak District).

Also present at the peak of HAN activities in Batang Alai Timur District, Hulu Sungai Tengah Regent, Forkopimda (Head of Police Office, Chief Prosecutor, Head of Court, Dandim, Danyon, Chair of DPRD), and SKPD (Head of Social Office, Head of Diskominfo, Head of Dukcapil Office, Head of Education Office, Head of Health Office, Head of PUPERA Office, Head of Library Office, and Head of PKK).

This year's HAN commemoration is a form of optimism that Indonesian children who are in difficult situations and conditions are still intense and persistent. They can pin their hopes as high as possible. With the support of all components of the nation, we are sure that the hopes of Indonesian children to become great children will come true.