Minister's Outreach: Empowering a Backbone of the Family in East Manggarai

EAST MANGGARAI (26 February 2024) - Maria Evin (42), a mother who lives with her three children in an uninhabitable house, received assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA). Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini visited Maria in her hometown of Golo Wune Village, South Lamba Leda District, East Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. The Minister's arrival involved not only ensuring that Maria and her three children received the necessary support but also engaging in dialogue with the community about empowerment programs.

According to Maria's assessment, many residents from Golo Wune Village left their homes to work outside (merantau) of Flores Island but were still unable to meet their families' needs. "In the example of Mrs. Evin (Maria), it appears that her husband went to merantau but was still unable to provide for his family. So, what does it mean? It means we have to attempt to get them to find food here, so they don't have to leave," stated the Minister following a conversation with residents on Sunday (25/2).

During dialogue with residents, the Minister appealed to heads of families not to leave their villages and seek income in their areas of origin. The Minister committed to helping groups become more empowered. From the results of the dialogue, people requested funds to raise pigs, laying hens, and cattle. Aside from that, there is also clean water management, irrigation, and tractors. The Minister asked the community to be involved in labor-intensive programs, including the involvement of women.

Following the discussion, the Minister met the demands of residents who required practical tools, including two units of regular wheelchairs, two units of three-in-one wheelchairs, one unit of a three-legged walker, one unit of a four-legged walker, and two units of adaptable walking sticks. Apart from that, the Minister also distributed basic necessities to 100 beneficiary families who were children suffering from stunting, persons with disabilities, babies and toddlers, as well as vulnerable groups and the elderly.

To get to Golo Wune Village, the Minister had to travel 2 hours from Frans Sales Lega Airport, Ruteng, Manggarai Regency, then had to travel for 1 hour in a double cabin car because the road access was damaged. When asked by local journalists about her journey to the distant area of NTT, the Minister stated that it was an obligation regardless of how tough or far the terrain had to be covered. "This is my job. I am responsible and swore to pay attention to this, therefore if I don't do it, I'm also in the wrong," added the Minister.

Meanwhile, the Head of Golo Wune Village, Yohanes Ngajang, had not expected the Minister to visit his village. "What happened today was beyond our expectations, our imagination was only to visit a mother named Maria Efin, but it turns out that Maria Efin is the gateway to various other community hopes," he went on to say.

Yohanes stated that the Minister's presence was able to encourage the community amidst various life difficulties. He hopes that empowerment programs can be realized well. implemented successfully. "I am prepared to carry out what the Minister has suggested by organizing a group to serve free meals to the elderly. Then there are livestock programs. I'm ready to form a group," he remarked.