MoSA Designates Dharmasraya for National Elderly Day 2023

JAKARTA (26 May 2023) – National Elderly Day (HLUN) is celebrated on 29 May every year. The HLUN commemoration is an effort to raise the status of the elderly as a potential asset to the country rather than a burden. It is intended that HLUN would serve as a reminder that the Indonesian state and society are here to care for the elderly, who are often ignored.

The peak event of HLUN 2023 will be held on 29 May 2023, in Dharmasraya Regency, West Sumatra Province, with the theme "Cared for Elderly, Dignified Indonesia". This district, with a population of 228 thousand, was chosen due to the high rate of unregistered marriages among the elderly.

At the peak of HLUN 2023, Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini will be present directly at Dharmasraya and greet the elderly in 11 sub-districts via teleconference connected to the main location on Punjung Island.

Head of the Social Office for Women's Empowerment, Child Protection, Population Control and Family Planning (Dinsos P3APPKB) in Dharmasraya Regency, Martin Efendi, stated that a total of 891 elderly people had not registered their marriages.

"The reason for not having an official marriage is because in the village, when you are old, it is impossible to process the marriage documents, so you choose to marry privately, it is not registered by the state," he said when contacted some time ago.

The large number of unregistered marriages among the elderly is attributable to the fact that when they married decades ago, they did not receive a marriage certificate. The failure to register a previous marriage affects the second marriage. When an elderly person wishes to marry, a divorce certificate cannot be granted because no previous marriage certificate exists.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA)and the Dharmasraya Regency Government have collected data on elderly people who participate in marriage registration. The integrated marriage registration series took place on 22 and 25 May, as well as on 29 May 2023, which was the peak day. The marriage registration agency works with the local Religious Court to validate marital status.

Aside from marriage registration, the 2023 HLUN series at Dharmasraya helps the elderly achieve their civil rights by creating ID cards, birth certificates, and Family Cards. The Religious Courts, the Ministry of Religious Affairs Office, and the Population and Civil Registration Office collaborate to provide this service.

MoSA deployed all technical units around Indonesia to celebrate HLUN in 11 districts, including one peak event site at Dharmasraya Regency's capital. "The HLUN series began in early May, with a comprehensive assessment to identify the problems and potential of the elderly in Dharmasraya," stated Acting Head of Public Relations Bureau Romal Uli Jaya Sinaga on Friday (26/5).

Apart from civil compliance, elderly people in 11 districts in Dharmasraya will receive health services such as cataract surgery and basic health checks such as blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, and uric acid. Various programs of social assistance will also be available. One of them is the Elderly Economic Empowerment Program where potential elderly people will be given business development capital.

Furthermore, as many as 55 elderly households will receive house rehabilitation assistance through the Integrated Welfare Houses program. There is also food assistance for single elderly people, wheelchairs, glasses, canes, and walkers, as well as clothing and nutritional assistance.

"Not only distributing aid, HLUN is also a momentum to increase the younger generation's awareness of the elderly," said Romal. Every day, the media reports on new examples of elderly maltreatment. As a result, action is required to instill in the younger generation a sense of compassion for the elderly. To accomplish this, HLUN 2023 will host an election for Elderly Ambassadors among children, teenagers, and young to advocate for the significance of caring for the elderly.