To Improve Services for Vulnerable Groups, Minister of Social Affairs Transforms Balai Besar into Social Service Centers

YOGYAKARTA (APRIL 3, 2023) - Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini conveyed the transformation of the role of the technical implementation unit (UPT) of the Balai Besar or Centers into a social service center. The transformation is carried out through an evaluation of large centers.

There will be other centers that will be transformed, such as Social Welfare Education and Training Center Yogyakarta (BBPPKS) based on Social Ministerial Decree Number 221/HUK/2022.

The Minister of Social Affairs stated that the centers were originally under the Education and Training Center (Badiklit). Government policy requires research institutions to be united under the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).

"I thought that education would not have much benefit to society. So, I changed it into a center to provide services for vulnerable beneficiaries such as people with disabilities and other vulnerable citizens," said the Minister while attending BBPPKS Yogyakarta (03/04).

Based on the evaluation, changing the duties and functions of the centers into social service centers will require a number of steps. The Minister stated, to support its new duties and functions, additional human resource formations, cooperation with other parties, optimization of land and variations in types of skills are needed.

"We prepare the center to be able to provide services for people with mental disorder and other people with disabilities, as well as other vulnerable citizens. Indeed, you have to learn to handle this because they have never handled this before," said the Minister.

The Minister said that there were no nurses or doctors in this center. Currently, the Minister is requesting the formation of nurses, doctors, psychologists and other health workers.

In addition, the Minister will build cooperation with Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta University to be able to provide services to beneficiaries. "So, the students can practice here, providing services for vulnerable beneficiaries," said the Minister.

Second, continued the Minister, her party wants to utilize an area of approximately 4 hectares in this hall to make it more optimal for beneficiaries.

Third, the Minister requested that the types of training vary for the future of the beneficiaries. Currently, the center is preparing several rooms that will function as a painting gallery, showroom for the work of Beneficiaries, Screen Printing / Ecoprint Workshop, Workshop for Assembling Assistive Devices for Persons with Disabilities (Tricycle, adaptive wheelchair, adaptive stick) and cafe.

In the middle of her visit, the Minister of Social Affairs also provided reinforcement to employees of the Integrated Service Center. The Minister emphasized that employees has to start to improve their ability to respond to social problems with a ball-picking system.

The Minister also said that the handling of vulnerable citizens must be based on the results of the assessment. Likewise, the form of empowerment provided must be in accordance with the results of a comprehensive assessment.

"Not just providing assistance, empowerment is important so that they can be independent. So that the service must be completed," said the Minister.

During this visit, Social Affairs Minister accompanied by the Special Staff of Communication and Mass Media Don Rozano, Special Staff of Empowerment and Poverty Management Doddy Madya Judanto, Head of Education and Training Center Yogyakarta Eva Rahmi Kasim.

Public Relation Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs