Receiving ATENSI Assistance, Persons with Disabilities in Bali: Matur Suksma, President and Minister of Social Affairs

DENPASAR (26 May 2022) – Persons with hearing disabilities in Bali, I Made Suardana expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the government's assistance through the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA). This 59-year-old man received the assistance of IDR 1,200,000 as working capital assistance.

"Matur Suksma (thank you) MoSA who has helped and provided me with working capital for selling beverages," said Suardana using sign language (26/05).

Having a hearing impairment did not make Suardana give up on his fate. Every day, he earns money by selling beverages. "I will use the assistance to increase capital funding," he said.

Suardana is one of 97 beneficiaries who met President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) during his working visit to Bali Province. Together with First Lady Iriana, the President distributed Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) from MoSA to several persons with disabilities at Pasar Kereneng, Denpasar City, Bali (25/05).

The President and the First Lady walked around the market. The President greeted the merchants one by one. As a response, they greeted him with shouts of enthusiasm.

“Use this assistance for your needs only. Don't buy unnecessary things. Those who receive money may buy cooking oil," he advised.

The assistance was symbolically handed over by President Joko Widodo. Afterwards, the Head of the Mahatmiya Bali Center, Sri Wibowo, distributed the assistance to the beneficiaries.

On that occasion, MoSA through the "Mahatmiya" Bali Center distributed assistance to 5 beneficiaries. The assistance was in the form of beauty salon entrepreneurship assistance, namely backwash unit, beauty cases, hair cutting scissors, hair straighteners, and shampoo worth IDR 6,000,000.

Then the massage entrepreneurship assistance in the form of folding cot massage, olive oil, baby oil, bath scrubs, pillows, bed linen, cloth for massage, towels, small cupboards and adaptive sticks worth IDR 6,500,000.

Entrepreneurial assistance for selling beverages in the form of a 2-door refrigerator, blender, plastic chair, portable table, cup sealer, various sizes of plastic cups, plastic straws, pop ice, nutrisari, and instant coffee worth IDR 7,500,000.

Then there was assistance in the form of adaptive wheelchairs, grocery shop business assistance (50 kg of rice, 1 box of cooking oil, 20 kg of sugar, 6 boxes of instant noodles, dishwashing soap sachets, shampoo, salt, toothpaste, bath soap, instant seasonings, snacks, soy sauce and bottled sauce) and social care assistance in the form of diapers with a value of IDR 11,400,000.

A total of 95 other beneficiaries received the assistance of PKH, BPNT, and BLT for Cooking Oil worth IDR 300,000 with total assistance of IDR 28,500,000. Presidential assistance in the form of working capital assistance of IDR 1,200,000 was given to 97 recipients worth IDR 116,400,000. The total assistance for 97 beneficiaries in Pasar Kereneng was IDR 176.300.000.

After the distribution of social assistance was over, the President went straight to the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC), Badung Regency, to attend the opening ceremony of The 7th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2022.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs