Ministry of Social Affairs Increases Digitalization and Financial Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities

  • Ministry of Social Affairs Increases Digitalization and Financial Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities
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Writer :
Humas Dit. Penyandang Disabilitas
Editor :
Intan Qonita N
Translator :
Karlina Irsalyana

JAKARTA (22 December 2020) - Support for the accessibility of financial institutions for Persons with Disabilities has been carried out by various countries, for example ASEAN countries are committed to efforts to equalize the rights of Persons with Disabilities embodied in the "ASEAN Enabling Master plan 2025: Mainstreaming the Rights of Persons with Disabilities" with one of the priority aspects is financial inclusion.

The Director General of Social Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Harry Hikmat attended the Workshop "Increasing Digital Access to Financial Institutions for Persons with Disabilities" organized in collaboration with DEFINIT, United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and KOMPAK.

"Financial inclusion is very important to ensure the availability of access to various institutions, products and financial services according to the needs and abilities of Persons with Disabilities. Community groups who need Social Welfare Services (PPKS), including Persons with Disabilities, can become subjects at the level of implementing policies to increase access to financial inclusion. for example, remittances or money transfer services, insurance, credit financing, savings and even payment transactions that still have to be developed, "said Harry.

The Ministry of Social Affairs has established a Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) program, including to ensure that Persons with Disabilities have access to various social services including the provision of social assistance, accessibility support in financial transactions. The Ministry of Social Affairs through 19 Disability Centers throughout Indonesia will develop financial inclusion services.

"In an effort to strengthen the socio-economy for Persons with Disabilities, the Ministry of Social Affairs implements a program to fulfill basic needs through the provision of social assistance in the form of staple food, cash, PKH Regular, social assistance for persons with disabilities, and Rice Subsidy for non-PKH," said Harry.

"Furthermore, strengthening the socio-economic resilience affected by Covid 19 through the entrepreneurship program for Persons with Disabilities based on Sheltered Workshop, and stimulus support for Productive Economic Enterprises for Persons with Disabilities, as well as efforts to increase the capacity of Persons with Disabilities in various forms of work skills. Entrepreneurship program through the Vocational program has also been implemented through our program, "he added.

In 2021, the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Social Affairs will implement Cash Management through the ATENSI Card in the form of a combo debit card for the distribution of social assistance and government assistance. It is even hoped that government subsidies / public service concessions will be integrated with the Card for Persons with Disabilities.

The importance of digital for Persons with Disabilities was conveyed by the Lecturer of Psychology at the University of Indonesia, Prof. Irwanto. "Digital platforms are very helpful for Persons with Disabilities so that if they can be developed in such a way, it will not only help access but also manage assets and potential of Persons with Disabilities. The link between the businesses of Persons with Disabilities, the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and the market with maximum effort will produce extraordinary results. In fact, everyone seems to be normal, "hoped Irwanto.

On this occasion, the Barriers for Persons with Disabilities in financial inclusion were revealed by the Chairperson of the Indonesian Forum for Inclusion, Tolhas Dalmanik. "Obstacles from the physical aspect, we still see that many banks and ATMs do not physically have access. There is a need for education on banking services and financial literacy for Persons with Disabilities. We need a forum for complaints when we have problems with access to financial institutions. "We hope that digital and non-digital efforts will be made so that all can be accommodated," said Tolhas.

Meanwhile, representatives from PERTUNI, Aria Indrawati reminded the OJK that when there were complaints regarding banks that were not prepared to provide ATM cards, they were requested by OJK which has the authority to pay attention to complaints of Persons with Disabilities.

On the same occasion, the Indonesian Parents and Children with Disabilities Association (PORTADIN), Hendi Hendratmoko also expressed his hopes regarding the financial inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. "We have entered the Industrial World 5.0, so we hope that government banking can take advantage of the digital banking era and even open banking, so that what is a barrier for Persons with Disabilities can be overcome and of course access to security is higher. With current technological developments, people can access banks. enough via cellphone, "hoped Hendi.

The Indonesian Association of Persons with Disabilities (PPDI), Gufroni Sakaril also attended the day's workshop to convey proposals related to policies that could accelerate access to financial inclusion. "The need for readiness of regulations related to financial inclusion, simulations to ensure that regulations can be implemented in the field by involving banking stakeholders and people with disabilities so that they can be effective and efficient," said Gufroni.

The workshop which was held virtually today aims to collect information from stakeholders in order to obtain the real conditions of financial access and digital service needs so that the acceleration of financial inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Indonesia can be realized.
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