MoSA Supports Persons with Visual Disabilities to be Enterpreneur

BREBES (July 28, 2023) - A Person with a Visual Sensory Disability, Elan Himaludin looks elated. The 31 years old man is waiting for his turn to receive entrepreneurial Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI).

Hilman, whom he is usually called by, is one of 200 beneficiaries in Assistance Distribution of Disability Cluster in 2023 in Brebes Regency, Central Java. Previously, they sent an assistance application proposal submitted through Social Office of Brebes Regency.

The proposal is quickly responded by Ministry of Social Affairs. By assessing their business needs 1,5 months ago, Ministry of Social Affairs’ team through Satria Center in Baturaden ensure that Hilman and friends are now able to have their massage parlor independently.

This becomes a ray of hope for Hilman and his friends. How so? Hilman has been staffed in a massage parlor for five years in Pemalang. He got his massage skills after having massage training for 3 years at Distrasastra Social Rehabilitation Center in Pemalang.

He thinks that the time has come for him to progress and built his own business. “When I finished my education in Pemalang, I straightly worked for a Pemalang resident because I had no capital. We usually split the income by half,” Hilman, a resident of Banjarsari Village in Bantarkawung District, says.

In the parlor where he worked, the rate offered to the customers was Rp60.000. However, because it has to be split in half, he only got Rp30.000. He could handle 8 persons the most and at least 1 person per day. It means he was able to gain IDR240,000 per day.

Even if he’s young and disabled, Hilman is eager to develop himself, and surely to get more money.

Ministry of Social Affairs supports and gives capital assistance for massage parlors in the form of massage supplies including mattresses, beds, bedsheets, pillowcases, small cupboards, fans, towels, massage oil, table, and chairs for the waiting room.

“We are very thankful for Ministry of Social Affairs’ presence in assisting persons with disabilities.  Thank you for all the support. We also support Ministry of Social Affairs’ good plans. I hope that our business will be successful,” he says.

On the assistance distribution event held on July 27th – 28th, Hilman is not the only one accepting assistance. Ministry of Social Affairs through Satria Center in Baturaden also distributes ATENSI for persons with disabilities for 200 persons with disabilities in Brebes Regency. The assistance distributed is basic needs assistance, disability aid, and entrepreneurial assistance. The assistance total worth is Rp Rp 404.522.500.

The Head of Satria Center in Baturaden, Darmanto, says his promptness to distribute entrepreneurial ATENSI assistance for persons with disabilities, just as Hilman has received.

“If there is any potential from you, please communicate. Don’t hide it. Especially as I said, if there’s a person with disabilities who wants to make an effort, I try to help the best I can. Insya Allah,” Darmanto says.

The Secretary of Social Office of Brebes Regency, Imam Baehaqi, who represents the Head of Social Office says that this is not the first time for Satria Center in Baturaden to distribute assistance.

“Assistance Distribution from various clusters of Social Welfare Service Recipients (PPKS), including case responses in Brebes area has already been done before. We usually observe the needs in each district, and which village needs assistance. We try to map it,” Imam says.

He appreciates various efforts done by Ministry of Social Affairs through Satria Center in Baturaden on handling Social Welfare Service Recipients in his area. He also expresses his gratitude for various assistance distributed.