Visiting Ende, Minister of Social Affairs Helps Persons with Disabilities Used Smart Guide Sticks and Gives Boats for Fishermen

"From the bottom of my heart, thank you very much to the Minister of Social Affairs. I hope you can pay more attention to us so that the assistance from the Minister can be directly touched but I am proud of you," said Muhammad Rustam, a blind person from Ende.

The 46-year-old man expressed his feelings during a dialog with Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini on the shoreline of Jalan Lintas Flores, Raporendu, Nangapanda District, Ende Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Tuesday (28/2).

Responding to the statement, the Minister of Social Affairs immediately asked the Head of Ende Social Service to collect data on the number of disabilities specifically according to the type of disability.

During his visit to Ende, the Minister of Social Affairs had time to teach recipients how to use the Smart Guide Stick or Tongkat Penuntun Adaptif (TPA). "If it sounds like it means there is something, like goods or people then you have to move," said the Minister to one of the persons with visual sensory disabilities who received the Smart Guide Stick.

This smart guide stick can make a siren-like sound if there is an object in front of it. This tool is also capable of releasing sounds for emergency warnings. In Ende, the Minister of Social Affairs handed over two units of Smart Guide Stick to people with disabilities.

In addition, the Minister of Social Affairs handed over commercial three-wheeled motorcycles to persons with physical disabilities, complete with business packages for selling food and soft drinks. This assistance is a form of empowerment for independence for persons with disabilities provided through Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI).

Meanwhile, ATENSI assistance in Ende was given to 16 people, with details of 6 children who need special protection (AMPK), 5 people with disabilities, and 5 elderly people. The assistance provided is in the form of fulfilling a decent life, such as school equipment, additional nutrition, and necessities; assistive devices in the form of smart guiding sticks as many as 2 units for people with disabilities; and entrepreneurial assistance in the form of three-wheeled motorcycle and business packages for 1 person with disabilities. The total assistance handed over was worth IDR 80.4 million.

In Ende, the Minister also reviewed the progress of making 25 units of fiber boats with a power of 5 GT, which have entered the completion stage. Total assistance for ships worth Rp6.48 billion. This ship is equipped with communication technology and fish detection devices. This 4-ton capacity ship is made in Ende by the community itself so that they can independently repair the ship in case of damage.

The provision of this ship aims to improve the welfare of fishermen in Ende. According to the Minister, fishermen are threatened with losing their livelihoods if they are not equipped with adequate ships. "So, if there are no tools to find food, how can he have a prosperous life?" he said.

Meanwhile, Ende Regent Djafar Achmad expressed his joy for the assistance handed over. "This is extraordinary for all of us. Mrs. Risma, we are very grateful for the assistance of this 5 GT boat for fishermen," he said.

Djafar said 10 sub-districts received the assistance, including Ende Island, Nangapanda, North Ende, South Ende, East Ende, Wolowaru, Wolojita, and Maurole.

During the event, Member of the House of Representatives Andreas Hugo Pareira, Special Staff of the Minister for Communication and Mass Media Don Rozano Sigit Prakoeswa, Director General of Social Protection and Security Robben Rico, Chairman of Ende DPRD Fransiskus Tajo, Ende Police Chief AKBP Andre Librian, Ende Kajari Zulfahmi, and Representative of Dandim Ende Kapt. lnu Kasmir was also present.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs RI