Jakarta (January 31st, 2024) – To optimize social problem service for Persons in Need of Social Services (PPKS), Ministry of Social Affairs transforms single service centers into multiservice centers.

The transformation is the Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini’s policy to increase Ministry of Social Affairs’s service accessibility, and to make the centers perform more inclusively.

“Ministry of Social Affairs’ service on 31 centers spread throughout the nation is a realization that the state is present for the society,” Secretary of Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation Salahuddin Yahya said on Forum Salemba 28 (FORSA 28) having the theme of “the Policy of Persons with Mental Disability (ODGJ)” in Jakarta on Monday (January 31st, 2024).

The role of the centers becomes the front line of Ministry of Social Affairs’ success in carrying out tasks on responding to the handling of Persons in Need of Social Services (PPKS). However, Ministry of Social Affairs cannot work solely, instead, the Ministry needs to serve the people who need help together,” he said.

Salahuddin said regarding the five-yearly event, which is the general election, Persons in Need of Social Service (PPKS) living in the centers get the political rights to vote and to choose, including persons with mental disability by paying attention to the criteria and conditions.

“We communicate and coordinate with General Election Commission (KPU) about the fulfillment of political rights of Persons in Need of Social Service including Persons with Mental Disability (ODGJ), by taking administrative regulation and condition into consideration, not the persons with permanent mental disability,” he said.

The acting head of Director of Social Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Annie Martina Redjeki said that after the transformation, 31 centers have had a positive impact on serving all kinds of social problems such as persons with disabilities, Annie said.

The service for persons with mental disabilities (ODGJ) has an art element and unique ways, depending on the level of mental illness suffered such as light, moderate, and severe.

“On handling our special brothers and sisters, there’s the element of social therapy. Sometimes, they don’t want to be greeted by their family. Yet, they respond when strangers greet them. For example, when we deliver food assistance. Because they meet regularly, they become brave. They even want to take a shower because they expect to see someone every day,” Annie says.