Social Minister Affirms Dedi Mulyadi Cannot Be Unilateral In Making Vasektomi A New Requirement To Give Social Assistance

Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Saifullah Yusuf. (Antaranews)

JAKARTA - Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Saifullah Yusuf stated that it was still necessary to pay close attention to the idea of the Governor of West Java (Jabar) Dedi Mulyadi who wanted to make the vasectomi a condition for the community to receive social assistance (bansos).

"Yes, we need time to digest Kang Dedi (Dedi Mulyadi)'s idea," said Social Minister Saifullah in Yogyakarta, Saturday, May 3, confiscated by Antara.

According to him, such proposals must be considered thoroughly, especially because social assistance has been provided in the framework of social protection and security.

Social assistance through the Family Hope Program (PKH), he said, has been designed to help the poor meet basic needs while at the same time paving the way for independence.

"Motivate recipients of social assistance to be able to advance to class, to be able to live more independently, to have skills and open access," said the Minister of Social Affairs, who is familiarly called Gus Ipul.

If you want to add new conditions in the distribution of aid, according to Gus Ipul, it cannot be done unilaterally considering that there are many considerations that must be studied, from aspects of religion to human rights (HAM).

"If it is added to the conditions outside the program design, we must discuss it. Especially if we make a decision by having to consider religious values, human rights values, and other considerations," he said.

When asked about the haram fatwa from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) regarding the vasectomi, Saifullah did not deny that this was one of the reasons for the need for cross-sectoral discussion.

"That's why that's one of them, a lot. This must be calculated together," he said.

Gus Ipul also reminded that most social assistance from the government has been aimed at basic needs of the community, such as nutritional intake for pregnant women and children.

"This must be given for the needs of pregnant women, for children, infants. So, the designation is clear," said the Minister of Social Affairs.

Previously, West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi planned to make the participation of KB a requirement for the community to receive assistance ranging from scholarships to various social assistance from the province.

Dedi in Bandung, Monday, April 28, said the plan was aimed at providing government assistance, including from the province, more evenly and not focusing on one party or one family only.

All government assistance later, he said, would be integrated with KB.

Dedi emphasized that in the future, data on recipients of social assistance must be integrated with population data. More specifically, the population data must contain data on KB participants, especially male or vasectomial families.

"Don't let his health be guaranteed, his birth is guaranteed, but the state guarantees that family too. Those who get scholarships, those who receive assistance in giving birth, family housing, family non-cash assistance, will be paid off by the state in one family," said Dedi.