jfid – On a bright morning in Lauran Village, South Tanimbar District, Tanimbar Islands Regency, Maluku Province, Norbertha, a 40-year-old housewife, started her day with great enthusiasm.
It was a special day for her because she received long-awaited assistance—capital for layer chickens and a new house from the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemensos).
This assistance not only brought new hope to Norbertha but also brought significant changes to her and her family’s lives.
Origin of the Assistance
The community empowerment program initiated by the Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs, Tri Rismaharini, aims to improve the welfare of people in remote and underdeveloped areas.
The program includes various forms of assistance, such as business capital like layer chickens and vegetable seeds, as well as home renovations for those in need. Norbertha is one of the beneficiaries of this program.
Kemensos provided Norbertha with 12 layer chickens and vegetable seeds to plant in her backyard.
These chickens are expected to provide additional income for Norbertha and her husband, who previously worked irregularly. Her husband, suffering from a chronic illness, could not work optimally, resulting in very limited family income.
Transformation of Norbertha’s Home
In addition to providing business capital, Kemensos also renovated Norbertha’s house, which previously measured 5×5 meters with walls and a roof made of zinc.
The newly renovated house is now a more livable permanent structure. This renovation was carried out by the Disaster Preparedness Youth Team (Tagana) of the Tanimbar Islands Regency.
In an interview with ANTARA News, Norbertha expressed her gratitude and happiness. “The assistance with layer chickens and vegetable seeds has been very helpful for us. We can increase our income through work. Moreover, this new house provides a sense of security and comfort for us,” she said with a broad smile.
Visit from the Minister of Social Affairs
The Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs, Tri Rismaharini, also made direct visits to several community empowerment assistance locations.
One of the visited locations was Barambai Kolam Kanan Subdistrict, Barito Kuala, South Kalimantan. There, she directly inspected the layer chicken assistance program provided to the local community.
During her visit, Rismaharini explained that the assistance with layer chickens and vegetable seeds is designed to provide business capital to the community so that they can increase their income.
“So for their daily needs, this is correct, it can be consumed directly or sold as a business,” said Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini.
Positive Impact of the Assistance
The assistance from Kemensos has not only had a positive impact on Norbertha and her family but also on the surrounding community.
This program is expected to improve the welfare of the community and serve as a stimulus for the emergence of various other businesses in the area.
The Head of Kolam Kanan Village, Edi Sungkowo, expressed his gratitude for this assistance. “It feels like a dream, Madam Minister came to our village. We thank you for this assistance with layer chickens, hopefully it will be beneficial and sustainable for our descendants,” he said.
This program also provides training to the community on how to care for layer chickens and manage their vegetable harvests.
This training aims to ensure that the assistance provided can be utilized optimally and sustainably.
Challenges and Hopes
Although this assistance has brought new hope to Norbertha and others, challenges remain.
Inadequate infrastructure and limited market access are some of the obstacles they face. However, with determination and hard work, Norbertha and her husband believe they can overcome these challenges and improve their quality of life.
“We are grateful to Kemensos because this assistance has helped us have a better home and increase our income. We hope this assistance continues and can be felt by more people in our village,” said Norbertha.
Conclusion
Assistance from Kemensos to Norbertha and others is a concrete step in empowering communities in remote areas.
This program not only provides business capital but also offers the necessary training and support to ensure the success of these businesses.
With this assistance, it is hoped that the welfare of the community will improve and provide new hope for those in need.
