BALI (7 September 2020) -
Ministry of Social Affairs moves quickly to take a real initiatives, focusing
on strengthening citizens who are struggling to survive due to the impact of
the pandemic.
A total of 2,000
packages of social assistance of the MoSA Present were symbolically handed over
by the Ministry of Social Affairs' Dharma Wanita Advisor Association Grace
Batubara to the Balinese.
1,000 basic food
packages for Denpasar City residents through the Mercy Indonesia Foundation and
1,000 basic food packages for residents of Tabanan District, Tabanan Regency
through the Bakti Marga Foundation.
The distance did
not lessen Grace Batubara and his entourage to bring a joy to the Balinese.
Grace said to keep up the spirit to get back up.
"I feel how
the pandemic has hit the economy and social life of Bali, where tourist
destinations are the livelihoods of most of Balinese people. What we provide is
basic food for those whose names may not be on the list of central government
assistance. Hopefully the spirit of mutual cooperation will be maintained,
because that's all we can do at this time, "said Grace Batubara.
An atmosphere
full of intimacy appeared when Grace Batubara and entourage arrived at the
Mercy Indonesia Foundation Office, Tonja Village, North Denpasar District,
Denpasar City. Her presence was received by the Chairperson of the Bali
Province TP PKK Ny Putri Suastini Koster.
"Thank you
for your sincerity to greet our people who are affected by Covid-19. What we
can do now is return to the Indonesian national identity, namely mutual
cooperation, sympathy, empathy and care. Only in that way do we feel that this burden
is not a heavy burden. This assistance is intended for employees who are
victims of layoffs and other affected people in Denpasar and its surroundings,
"said Mrs. Putri Suastini Koster.
Ida Bagus Putu
Mahardika (29) saw full of gratitude when he received a symbolic aid. He is a
former hotel employee in the Nusa Dua area who was dismissed because the hotel
he worked for was experiencing a crisis and was temporarily closed.
"Thank you,
this assistance has been very helpful for my family. During this pandemic I was
doing work on projects, small businesses, trading incense. Approaching
Galungan, I also sell lunkhead and groceries. Hopefully the pandemic will pass
quickly and everyone can do activities like before," added Ida Bagus Putu
Mahardika.
Grace Batubara's
friendliness and care also had its own impression for Komang (45), when Grace
Batubara and her entourage visited her.
"I sell
coffee and cold drinks. Work from 10 am to 8 pm. The difference was before
Corona I got 100 thousand per day, now I get 50 thousand sometimes 40 thousand.
This is my first time receive this assistance, I never got it at all before.
Thank you Ministry of Social for its assistance," added Komang.
Still in the
spirit of building togetherness and care, the arrival of Grace Batubara and her
entourage at the Dauh Peken Village Office, Tabanan Regency, was welcomed by
the Deputy Regent of Tabanan, I Komang Gede Sanjaya.
"It is an
honor for us, your arrival in Tabanan is the second time and hopefully not the
last. Your presence brings encouragement to our people. Regardless of the
situation, Tabanan Regency is Bali's rice granary, where food security starts
from here. This will be distributed to underprivileged residents and the
elderly in Tabanan District," said I Komang Gede Sanjaya.
Not many words
were spoken by Ni Nyoman Yulia Ningsih (55), a housewife who often lives alone
after her husband's passed away. Only expressions and words of gratitude he
conveyed to Grace Batubara.
"I thank
you, Minister, I hope the pandemic will end quickly. I am just a housewife, my
husband has passed away a year ago. Usually I got it from children everyday, but
because of Corona, their salary is only a half now," said Ni Nyoman Yulia
Ningsih.
TKSK together
with other social pillars at the village and subdistrict levels are also
directly involved in proposing potential recipients of this assistance. This
was conveyed by I Made Nursana, the Provincial Coordinator of TKSK Bali. They
also suggested residents who were still scattered and had never received
assistance.
Present at the
activities were the Director of Management of Social Assistance Funds
Resources, Technical Staff of the Minister for Social Empowerment, Members of
the Dharma Wanita Persatuan Kemensos Mrs. Syifa Asep Sasa, Mrs. Betty Laode
Taufik. Also attending were the Head of the Bali Province Social, Women's
Empowerment and Child Protection Service, as well as the Denpasar City Unity
Dharma Wanita Advisor.