Ministry of Social Affairs Anticipates the Impact of the Pandemic on Children's Lives

MAKASSAR (8 October 2021) - The Ministry of Social Affairs continues to distribute Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) for Children, Persons with Disabilities, the Elderly, Victims of Drug Abuse, and Persons with Social Deviance Issues.

This ATENSI was symbolically given by the Deputy Chairman and Member of Commission VIII DPR RI, to the beneficiaries at the Toddopuli Children's Center Makassar, with a total value of Rp. 1,531,027,000.

The ATENSI provided consisted of entrepreneurship assistance for 287 people in the form of convection businesses, livestock, grocery stalls, photography, graphic design, workshops, electronic services, weaving, souvenirs, and screen printing. Two people received accessibility assistance in the form of laptops and cellphones, and assistance for basic needs was handed over to 489 people in the form of necessities, nutrition, and school supplies.

Secretary of the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation, Idit Supriadi Priatna said that this ATENSI was also given to orphans, fatherless and motherless whose parents died due to Covid-19 with total assistance of Rp. 32,500,000 for 63 children. This assistance was also handed over by the Deputy Chairperson and Members of Commission VIII of the DPR RI to 19 orphans who were present in the delivery of the assistance.

TB. Ace Hasan Syadzily as Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII DPR RI said that the Ministry of Social Affairs is one of the most important ministries, therefore Commission VIII DPR RI has a serious concern to encourage the government, especially to the community to anticipate the impact of the pandemic or the impact on children's lives.

"We, the House of Representatives Commission VIII, have approved and even encouraged and ensured that children's education, child care schools so that later they grow up have the same fate as those of their age. Especially proper education," said the Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII of the DPR RI.

Ace also emphasized that the government must pay attention to orphans whose parents died due to Covid-19 so that they are cared for.

On this occasion, the National Board of Zakat (BAZNAS) also assisted in a form of serious attention from the government worth Rp. 50 million in the form of school supplies, worship, and mosque equipment and facilities.