Minister of Social Affairs Invites Students to Build Regions

SURABAYA (4 November 2023) - Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini encouraged students to play an active role in the development of their regions.  This statement was made by Minister Risma when opening the 13th National Work Meeting of the Indonesian Hindu Dharma Student Action Unit (KMHDI) which was held at the Sukolilo Haji Dormitory, Surabaya.  In front of KMHDI administrators throughout Indonesia, Risma spoke about the condition of Indonesia with its diversity of problems, which of course requires student participation in development.

 "I have visited several border areas, such as Kalimantan, Papua, and also those bordering Timor Leste. In these places, the Ministry of Social Affairs is making efforts for social improvement. This includes providing community needs such as clean water," said Risma, Saturday (4/11).

Minister Risma saw that what the Ministry of Social Affairs had done could certainly also be done by students.  They gain various knowledge which is very useful if applied in the student's area or region of origin.

"I can say that almost 99.9% of the employees at the Ministry of Social Affairs are not technical personnel. However, they can build facilities for the community such as clean water networks. I also have an architectural background, but I became Minister of Social Affairs, and thank God, I can do it. I'm sure you, my children, can do it too. "You can play an active role in development at least in your area," continued the former Mayor of Surabaya.

In motivating the students who were members of the Indonesian Hindu Dharma Student Action Unit, the Minister of Social Affairs also invited one of his officials whose religion is Hindu.  It was I Ketut Supena, Director of Empowerment of Remote Indigenous Communities at the Ministry of Social Affairs, who participated via Zoom in the middle of the event.

The Minister specifically talked about I Ketut Supena with Hindu students so that they would be motivated to be like the man who is familiarly called Pak Ketut.

"He (Ketut Supena) is a Hindu who studied at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta and became the best student and graduated faster. So, when I took him to the Ministry of Social Affairs, I asked him to study business because at the Ministry of Social Affairs, there is an economic hero program as an effort to empower social assistance beneficiaries to be independent, and it turns out he can," he continued.

According to the Minister, Ketut's achievements are something that students should emulate.  They are expected to be encouraged by what Ketut has achieved and are expected never to give up.

"You can do it. Don't give up," said the Minister enthusiastically.

Not wanting the students' enthusiasm to dampen and looking very enthusiastic about listening to the presentation, the Minister of Social Affairs also made comparisons with disability groups who were successful in various fields.  The Minister said that many people with disabilities are successful.  Even though their body condition has limitations, they can maximize their work.

"I have several groups of people with physical disabilities such as the blind, speech disabilities, hard of hearing, and other physical disabilities. However, when I present them at international events, they are amazing and receive extraordinary appreciation," she continued.

Therefore, the Minister of Social Affairs hopes that the students who are members of KMHDI can emulate what is stated and act as a spirit booster for success.

"You have to be grateful because you were born perfect. You must be able, don't wait but must act. Don't expect to wait for work and stay quiet, you must try. Like PENA which raised the status of many social assistance recipients to be independent. They are no longer social assistance recipients but can provide employment opportunities. You can do it," concluded the Minister, who was greeted by thunderous applause from students who enthusiastically listened to the presentation and inspiring story from the Minister of Social Affairs, Tri Rismaharini.