Social Assistance Reaches Fishing Village in Dadap

While distributing sembako, Mrs. Grace Batubara was not tired of exchanging greetings with children, mothers, and fathers of the local community. Mrs. Grace Batubara, accompanied by Icuk Hartono Laras, Mrs. Syfa Asep Sasa, Mrs. Lili Nazaruddin, dan Mrs. Oom Komariah Suharto also noticed that the community was carrying out daily activities such as cleaning green mussles and fish.

A fisherman, Mrs. Sri Ningsih (36) stated that she was very happy to get sembako from the government, namely the Ministry of Social Affairs.

“I was greatly helped by this sembako, thank you for the government. Hopefully, the government continue to help the community,” hopes expressed by Sri Ningsih when meeting with Dharma Wanita’s Advisor of Ministry of Social Affairs in Kampung Nelayan Dadap, Kosambi District.

“Our purpose is to be able to provide sembako for the people here. We also collect appropriate clothes and children’s toys. Hopefully, it can ease their struggle in the COVID-19 pandemic period,” explained Grace Batubara.

“We, from the Ministry of Social Affairs, especially the Dharma Wanita and the Advanced Indonesian Oase Cabinet (Kabinet Oase Indonesia Maju), are currently visiting Kampung Dadap. This is our non-regular activity to respond to some people here who have not received social assistance at all. Our function is to provide assistance to the residents. “Hopefully, the packages we distribute here can help to fulfill their daily life,” Grace continued.

The residents of Kampung Nelayan Dadap are not only faced the COVID-19 pandemic, but also tidal floods which is often hit the area.

“Cheng In Village is indeed located in a coastal area which mostly lives as fisherman. This area is also always affected by tidal floods. Hopefully, this sembako can help the residents here,” explained District Chief H. Tisna Hambali Rundani when met at the location.

Under current condition, Imam Syafii, one of the employees in Dadap Urban Village, said that the activities of the residents had been disrupted due to tidal flooding.

“The residents here are not only affected by COVID-19, but also tidal flood, so that the residents’ activities are limited. Moreover, many of them are daily fishermen, green mussels cattle, small crab cattle, which have to stop for 2 weeks due to flooding,” said Imam.

One of the receivers of sembako named Mrs. Rosdiana (39) also felt a very extraordinary impact. Her husband who used to work as a freelance factory worker has to lose his job because there are no projects currently being work on.

“Nowadays, I sell shell to meet my daily need. The income drops dramatically, only get 15-20 thousand per day. Pay rent has to be postponed while waiting for the money to be collected,” explained Rosdiana.

Mrs. Grace also reminded the people to always take care of their health in order to break the chain of the spread of COVID-19.

“We pray together that COVID-19 will soon pass and disappear from the earth. Don’t forget to always wear a mask when you leave the house, wash your hands with running waters, and don’t go to crowded places,” added Mrs. Grace Batubara.

Also attending the visit were the Director of Heroism, Pioneering, Solidarity and Social Restoration, Head of Sub-Directorate of TMPNU, MPN, and TMPN, Head of Organization, Law and Public Relation of the Directorate General of Social Empowerment, Head of TMPNU, Head of Teluknaga District Police, and representative of Kosambi District, Dadap village, village officials concerned.