Soroti Anak di NTT Bunuh Diri, Komisi VIII DPR: Tamparan Keras di Tengah Jargon Indonesia Emas

ILLUSTRATION DOK VOI

Member of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives Mahdalena asked the government not to take lightly the case of a child in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) who dared to end his life by hanging himself because he could not afford to buy books and ballpoint pens for school.

According to him, this tragic event is not just an individual or family issue, but a real mirror of social injustice and the weakness of the social system for children in Indonesia.

"This is a hard blow for all of us. In the midst of the jargon of Indonesia's Gold 2045, there are still children who are so desperate that they lose hope just because they can't afford to buy stationery," said Mahdalena, Wednesday, February 4.

Mahdalena assessed that this case shows that the state has not fully been present in ensuring the basic rights of children to receive a decent and safe education. In fact, the constitution explicitly guarantees the right of every child to grow, develop, and receive education without discrimination.

"Children are the future of the nation. They are the foundation of Indonesia's Gold 2045. If today there are still children who are helpless even to just study, then something is wrong in our social protection system," said the PKB legislator.

Mahdalena also highlighted the social protection of children who are still vulnerable due to a number of factors, ranging from the data of recipients of assistance that are not yet fully accurate, the weak coordination between ministries and local governments, and the approach of assistance that has not touched the most basic needs of poor children.

"As a result, many children are scattered from the system, living in economic and psychological pressure without adequate assistance," he said.

Therefore, members of the social affairs commission encouraged the government to immediately conduct a thorough evaluation of the child social protection program, including ensuring that educational assistance actually reaches children from families that are unable to afford it, especially in lagging and remote areas.

The state, continued Mahdalena, must also strengthen psychosocial support services in schools and communities so that the pressure experienced by children can be detected early.

"The state must not wait for tragedy after tragedy to move. Child social protection must be preventive, not reactive. Do not let our children become victims of social injustice until they lose their future and life expectancy," he said.

Mahdalena reminded that Indonesia's success in moving towards Indonesia Emas 2045 is determined by how seriously the country protects and honors children today.

"It is sad and painful if there are children who fall because the system is not on their side. This is not only the grief of the family, but the grief of the nation," he concluded.