BANJARBARU (16 January 2024) – Salwa Labibah (6) and Salma Latifa (4), who live with their father in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, are overjoyed with the generous gifts they received from the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA). Not only were they given gifts, but their father Hamdani (54) also received support for his entrepreneurial endeavors.

Recently, a video of Salwa and Salma has been making waves online as they frequently shed tears, longing for a bottle of milk. Unfortunately, their father, who only worked additional jobs, was unable to fulfill this request. The story caught the attention of Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini, who promptly instructed the Centre of Budiluhur in Banjarbaru to take action on the case.

Based on the assessment, their father, Hamdani, has been the sole caretaker for Salwa and Salma. After their mother passed away in 2020, their father was forced to leave his job as a diamond panner. Occasionally, Salwa and Salwa would rely on their older sister, Nispahani, for care. However, due to her responsibilities for working and caring for her baby, she couldn't always be there for them.

At present, Hamdani is without a stable job, and his physical health is not as strong as it used to be, making it difficult for him to handle hard labor. Mostly, he relies on assistance from other children for everyday needs. "His current state prevents him from being able to work. However, he expressed his desire to own a small business," stated Cecep Sutriaman, the head of the Budiluhur Centre, during a conversation on Tuesday (16/1).

According to Cecep, MoSA was able to provide the necessary capital for the clothing business. His residence is near a bustling gathering of people. Hamdani also had a desire to conduct an online sale with the assistance of his daughter. In addition to providing business assistance, MoSA also offered them essential supplies such as hygiene kits, nutrition, and household tools.

In addition to providing material assistance, MoSA also supported their family status to DTKS and Indonesia Smart Card (Kartu Indonesia Pintar). "MoSA worked together with the local education department of Banjarbaru to ensure that children could attend elementary school without any cost," Cecep stated.

When Salwa and Salma start school, the Education Service and Social Service will suggest KIP for them. The Education Service and Social Service have committed to providing assistance in the development of KIP and DTKS for Hamdani and his family.

Meanwhile, on behalf of the family, Nispahani expressed her appreciation for the help and support received. "We are extremely grateful to the Ministry of Social Affairs for their attention to Salwa and Salma," expressed the older sister with heartfelt appreciation.