Social Minister Risma's Anger Until She Said She Would Move ASN To Papua Became A Spotlight, Ministry Of Social Affairs Spoke On Motivation

JAKARTA - The Director General of Social Rehabilitation, Raden Harry Hikmat, said the term "Going to Papua" was used by the Minister of Social Affairs, Tri Rismaharini, as a form of motivation for the state civil apparatus (ASN) to be more concerned during the pandemic emergency.

According to Harry, the expression is an effort to increase employee empathy for the current conditions of society, so that employees are able to work with their hearts, they must first get out of their comfort zone.

“That's what the statement means to move to Papua, the most distant place (from Bandung) but still in Indonesia. All employees must be able to get out of their comfort zone, leave their families and the comforts of their daily routines, to play a role in overcoming social problems from Aceh to Papua," said Harry, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, July 14.

Harry said that Risma's direction during his working visit at the Public Kitchen of the Wyata Guna Social Center, Bandung, Tuesday, July 13, should be interpreted as a whip for all ranks of the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Moreover, during the visit, Balai was able to provide entertainment and decorations that were not necessary in an emergency.

"We have to learn from the Tagana volunteers (Disaster Alert Team) how to operate a public kitchen," said Harry Hikmat.

This public kitchen at Balai Wyata Guna Bandung is implemented in several other social halls which also open public kitchens. Currently, public kitchens in order to improve the social resilience of communities affected by the Imposition of Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) in the Java-Bali region are operating in Jakarta, Bandung, Bogor, Solo, Surabaya and Denpasar.

The soup kitchen distributes additional protein and vitamin D for health workers, operational personnel supporting PPKM Emergency and the general public who are self-isolating.

The presence of the Ministry of Social Affairs in emergency response situations is also manifested in social empowerment and post-disaster management as carried out in several areas in Papua.

"After the flash flood in early 2021, for example, until now we have continued to encourage the rise of the community's economy through the provision of long-boats, facilitation of cooperatives to open basic food stalls and various agricultural product processing activities. We hope that our staff can go directly to areas in Papua after this Emergency PPKM," said Harry.

Previously, the Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Tri Rismaharini protested to a number of ASN in Balai Wyataguna Bandung because they were considered not to help cook in the public kitchen created by the Ministry of Social Affairs to distribute food to the public.

During her visit, Risma found that there was a public kitchen which was only done by officers from Tagana and other officers.

Meanwhile, other ASN within the Ministry of Social Affairs only work in their respective offices.