Seeing Fishermen Catching Fish on the Seashore, Social Affairs Minister Provides Boats in Sikka

SIKKA (February 28, 2023) - Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini handed over 25 boats to 25 fishermen groups in Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. The Minister of Social Affairs said that she came up with the idea as she couldn't bear to see fishermen unable to go to sea due to the lack of boats.

The Minister of Social Affairs said that when she was enjoying lunch at one of the restaurants in Ende, she saw fishermen netting fish on the seashore.

"They didn't have a boat or ship to go to the middle of the sea, so they trawled the seashore," she said in a statement to the media while inspecting the shipbuilding process at Wairhubing Beach, Watuliwung Village, Kangae District, Sikka Regency,  Monday (27/2).

According to the Minister of Social Affairs, fishermen are vulnerable to falling into poverty without access or adequate fishing equipment. This led the Minister of Social Affairs to contact Indonesian DPR Member Andreas Hugo Pareira who connected her with the Sikka Regency Government.

The fiber boat with a 5 GT engine was built directly in Sikka by bringing in experts from outside. "If it's outside, the price might be up to 400 (million).  We can make this ship here, with the people. Therefore, they can make their ship because there is a transfer of knowledge. We make the molding here," she said.

The fishing boats provided are made from fiber, making them lighter, weather resistant, easier to maintain, and have shorter production times. With a length of 10.5 meters and a width of 2 meters, this ship can accommodate up to 4 tons of fish.

A total of 22 ships have entered the final stage or reached 70% completion, while 3 ships are in the assembling stage. The value of the ship assistance handed over was IDR 6.48 billion.

One of the fishermen who received the ship, Yoseph Sukardi (52), couldn't wait to use the Minister of Social Affairs' ship. During this time, he went to sea using a wooden boat with a ketinting engine (outboard engine) with his group. Once they go to sea, they can only produce a limited number of small fish. Watuliwung Village residents hope the new ship will increase their income. "In the past we only earned hundreds of thousands, hopefully with this ship, we can increase our income to millions of rupiah," he said.

Meanwhile,  Sikka Regent Fransiskus Roberto Diogo appreciated the boat assistance provided to his residents considering that many fishermen in Sikka need help with motorized boats.

"This ship was built very quickly,  very well, it can be used for the welfare of the people of Sikka. Thank you, Minister," he said when giving his speech.

The man who has served as Regent of Sikka since 2018 was also impressed with the Minister of Social Affairs' alertness in responding to disasters in his area. "Mrs. Risma is always present in Indonesian society. Thank you, ma'am, for being so fast when Seroja Hurricane went straight to the scene. And now we are experiencing a disaster due to extreme rain which has caused casualties at several points," he said.

During her visit to Sikka, the Minister of  Social Affairs also handed over compensation to 3 heirs of flood victims that occurred in Nita, Tanarawa, and Waiblama sub-districts with 4 fatalities. Each was given compensation of IDR 15 million, so the total assistance given was IDR 60 million. In addition, the  Ministry of Social Affairs assisted in handling natural disasters i.e. logistical assistance worth IDR249.6 million.

Another assistance handed over by the Minister of Social Affairs was ATENSI  (Social Rehabilitation Assistance) assistance which was handed over to  18 people, with details of 9 children who need special protection  (AMPK), 4 people with disabilities, and 5 elderly people. The aid recipients came from Alok, East Alok, Nita, and Magepanda subdistricts.

The assistance provided is in the form of providing a decent life such as school supplies, additional nutrition, and necessities; assistive devices in the form of four-legged canes for four elderly people and a multi-use wheelchair for 1 person with disabilities; entrepreneurial assistance in the form of raising pigs for two people (elderly and disabled); and entrepreneurship assistance in the form of a three-wheeled motorbike and a business package for 1 person with a disability. The total assistance provided was IDR126.1 million.

In her activities in Sikka, the former Mayor of Surabaya for two terms took the time to dialogue with the people of Sikka. Dialogue with the community is an inseparable part of the Minister of Social Affairs' visits to the regions. This was done by the Minister of Social Affairs to find out directly about the needs of the community.

Also present at the activity in Sikka were Sikka Regency Regional Secretary  Adrianus Firmanus Parera, Sikka Police Chief AKBP Nelson Filipe Dias  Quintas, Dandim 1603 Sikka Setiawan Nur Prakoso Utomo, Sikka Prosecutor  Fatoni Hatam, Sikka District Court Chairperson I Gusti Ayu Akhiryani,  Danlanal Maumere Colonel Laut (P) Ady Dharmawan, and other members of the Sikka OPD.

Public Relations Bureau
Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs