Minister Risma's Laughter When Asked to Be Minister for Life

DHARMASRAYA (30 May 2023) – A unique event occurred when the Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini conducted a teleconference with elderly people in 11 districts in Dharmasraya Regency. Among them, there is a beneficiary who asked the Minister to serve for life.

This suggestion elicited laughs and applause from the Minister and the invitees who attended the 27th National Elderly Day (HLUN) summit event in the courtyard of the Dharmasraya Regent's Office, Punjung Island, Dharmasraya, West Sumatra Province.

Through a digital screen, the Minister greeted the elderly in 11 districts who were taking part in HLUN via teleconference which was connected to the main arena. The Minister addressed the districts of Dharmasraya one by one. When it was Koto Besar District's turn, an elderly guy wished to say something to the Minister.

"Would you please smile first?" asked the Minister. Sofyan SK (77) instantly took the microphone. The Minister waited for Sofyan to convey his opinion.

"Ma'am, I respectfully propose that you serve as Minister of Social Affairs indefinitely. We do feel a mother's love for her child, who is over 60 years old. We, as 60-year-old children, are still being given milk," Sofyan added, to laughter and cheers from the audience.

This man from Jorong Ranah Mulya Nagari (Village) Koto Gadang, Koto Besar District, Dharmasraya Regency received basic food and nutritional assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs. He's referring to calcium milk, which is used to strengthen elderly people's bones. He also received medication, clothing, personal hygiene products, prayer supplies, and a three-legged walking stick.

He expressed his gratitude to the Minister for choosing Dharmasraya as the venue for the 2023 HLUN activities. "We, the elderly, are very happy. We once again hope that Mrs. Risma will become Minister of Social Affairs rather than another minister," he stated.

Apart from Grandfather Sofyan, the Head of Asam Jujuhan District, Darul Kutni, also explained how the HLUN Dharmasraya activities benefited his residents. "Especially cataract surgery. If we visit the hospital on Punjung Island, we will have to pay our expenses. However, with the Ministry of Social Affairs' assistance, our residents who live 80 kilometers away from Punjung Island may get surgical facilities," he stated.

As for the 2023 HLUN, the Ministry of Social Affairs handed over assistance in the form of 202 units of hearing aids, 150 units of wheelchairs, 347 units of canes, 630 units of reading glasses, cataract surgery for 427 people, ATENSI entrepreneurship for 89 people, and the building of 55 units of integrated welfare houses for the elderly in Dharmasraya.