DPD RI Chair La Nyalla Mattalitti Oversees The Guarantee Program For Orphans Due To COVID-19

Chairman of the DPD RI La Nyalla Mattalitti. (Photo: IST)

JAKARTA – DPD RI Chair La Nyalla Mattalitti highlighted the validity of the data on the number of orphans who lost their parents due to COVID-19. The Ministry of Social Affairs noted that currently there are approximately 4 million orphans in Indonesia, including data from the COVID-19 Task Force which states that 11,045 children have become orphans, orphans, or orphans due to their parents dying due to illness or natural disasters.

According to him, the number of special orphans whose parents died due to COVID-19 is still unclear, for that the central government is right to cooperate with local governments, foundations, Child Welfare Institutions, and related agencies to collect data so that it is truly accurate.

"Don't let any orphans who have been victims of COVID go unrecorded. The local government through the Social Service must always update and devote their attention to this," said the former PSSI chairman, Sunday, August 22.

He added that the government should be involved in paying attention to the placement of children who were abandoned by their parents due to COVID-19.

Based on Government Regulation (PP) Number 44 of 2017 and Regulation of the Minister of Social Affairs (Permensos) Number 1 of 2020, said La Nyalla, the main caregiver for children whose parents have died the priority is family to the third degree, such as grandparents or uncles. their aunt.

"If it is not possible, the placement of children can indeed be through foster parents and LKSA or orphanages. It's just that the foster parent program must go through the right procedures so that there are no problems in the future. So the state must systematically take care of children who are victims of COVID, " said La Nyalla.

He explained that the state's program for orphans due to COVID-19 is listed in the explanation of the government's 2022 Financial Note and Draft Law on the Government's Budget of Opinion and Expenditure (APBN).

La Nyalla emphasized that the problem of orphans is indeed the duty of the state to take care of neglected children.

"Article 34 paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution states that the poor and neglected children are cared for by the state. The government is obliged to ensure that it fulfills the constitutional mandate," he said.

La Nyalla revealed that DPD RI will participate in monitoring and supervising this program, through cross-committees, starting from Committee III in charge of social welfare, child protection, education and health, Committee I in charge of local government, law and human rights), to Committee IV in the field of finance.

"We also urge people who have information on the whereabouts of orphans who were abandoned by their parents due to COVID-19 to report to the local government or social services. We need to jointly ensure that the rights of these children are not injured even if they lose their parents," explained La Nyalla.