Minister of Social Affairs Risma Prostrates at the Feet of a Blind Teacher While Debating Regarding Granted Land

Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini prostrate at the feet of a teacher with visual impairments during a debate over grants and repairs to the A Padjadjaran Special School (SLB) building, at Balai Wyata Guna, Bandung City, West Java, Tuesday (21/2/2023). 

The moment began when Risma made a working visit to the Wyata Guna Center to provide assistance to underprivileged communities. 

Before entering the hall for the distribution of aid, Risma stopped by Cafe More, which is managed by people with visual disabilities, while looking at the plants cultivated by people with disabilities. 

While talking with a number of people with disabilities, the teacher representing SLB A Padjadjaran then demanded Risma's promise regarding a land grant belonging to the Ministry of Social Affairs which is currently being used as a school for blind students. 

Risma said that the grant plan could not be carried out. Instead, the school building will be repaired and the classrooms added. 

"I want it repaired, later when it's repaired, please secure it, because there are many who are blind," said Risma, quoted from Tribun Jabar. 

Risma's offer was rejected by several teachers and staff with disabilities. They still want the Ministry of Social Affairs to grant the land. 

Tri, one of the blind teachers, emphasized to Risma that the grant request was not for her personal benefit. 

"Related to that, at that time my mother promised to grant this (land). We also don't do it for personal gain, madam, please make it happen," said Tri. 

Risma then replied to the teacher by saying that giving grants was difficult because the land was in the middle. 

"This is difficult because the land is in the middle like this, I can't. What's the problem? Both (belong to) the country, that's why the important thing is that I can fix it. We also built this cafe for people with disabilities," Risma answered. 

"That's why, Mom, I said we share," said Risma. 

Apart from Tri, a number of other staff also urged Risma to fulfill her promise to grant the school land belonging to the Ministry of Social Affairs. 

However, Risma still couldn't until finally the former Mayor of Surabaya bowed down at the feet of one of the blind teachers. 

"I prostrate," said Risma, bowing at the teacher's feet. 

Ministry of Social staff immediately approached and woke Risma. Meanwhile, the blind female teacher was still talking. 

"Don't be like that, Mother. It's not meant to be like this," Tri said, crying. 

Risma requested that no one whisper about the conditions at Wyata Guna. 

According to him, the Ministry of Social Affairs will help people in need, including in terms of education and independence. 

Balai Wyata Guna, he said, must be used for all persons with disabilities, not only the blind. 

When it was donated and only used for people with visual disabilities, Risma was worried that there were children with other special needs who could not be accommodated at Wyata Guna. 

Risma also reiterated that people with special needs, such as persons with disabilities, can actually be independent. 

Not a few of them are then able to make more money than people without disabilities. 

This potential is what the Ministry of Social Affairs is trying to build in every hall like Wyata Guna. Because, this has been done by people with disabilities who are capable of music, and then they make money from their skills. 

"So what I want to talk about is what the potential is (at Wyata Guna). We will help even though we can't be optimal, but these children can already earn money for them. Indeed, they must be trained professionally. That is what we are preparing," he said. 

Mensos Risma Sujud di Kaki Guru Tunanetra Saat Berdebat Terkait Lahan Hibah

Menteri Sosial Tri Rismaharini bersujud di kaki salah satu guru penyandang tunanetra saat berdebat soal hibah dan perbaikan bangunan Sekolah Luar Biasa (SLB) A Padjadjaran, di Balai Wyata Guna, Kota Bandung, Jawa Barat, Selasa (21/2/2023).

Momen itu bermula saat Risma melakukan kunjungan kerja ke Balai Wyata Guna untuk memberikan bantuan kepada masyarakat kurang mampu.

Sebelum memasuki aula acara penyerahan bantuan, Risma sempat mampir ke Cafe More yang dikelola penyandang disabilitas netra, sambil melihat-lihat tanaman yang dibudidayakan oleh para difabel.

Saat berbincang dengan sejumlah penyandang disabilitas, guru perwakilan SLB A Padjadjaran kemudian menagih janji Risma terkait hibah lahan milik Kementerian Sosial yang saat ini digunakan sebagai sekolah untuk siswa tunanetra.

Risma mengatakan, rencana pemberian hibah itu tidak dapat dilakukan. Sebagai gantinya, bangunan sekolah tersebut akan diperbaiki dan ditambah ruang kelasnya.

"Mau diperbaiki, nanti pas perbaikan tolong diamankan, soalnya banyak yang tunanetra,” ujar Risma, dikutip dari Tribun Jabar.

Tawaran Risma itu ditolak beberapa guru dan staf penyandang disabilitas. Mereka tetap menginginkan agar Kemensos menghibahkan lahan tersebut.

Tri, salah satu guru tunanetra, menegaskan kepada Risma bahwa permintaan hibah itu bukan untuk kepentingan pribadinya.

"Terkait itu, waktu itu ibu pernah janji menghibahkan ini (lahan). Kita juga bukan untuk kepentingan pribadi, Bu, tolong direalisasikan," ujar Tri.

Risma kemudian menimpali guru tersebut dengan mengatakan bahwa pemberian hibah sulit dilakukan karena posisi tanahnya berada di tengah.

"Ini susah karena tanahnya ada di tengah gini, saya enggak bisa. Masalahnya apa? Sama-sama (milik) negaranya, makanya tadi yang penting saya bisa perbaiki. Ini kafe juga kami bangun untuk disabilitas," jawab Risma.

"Makanya, Bu, kata saya kita berbagi," ujar Risma.

Selain Tri, sejumlah staf lain turut mendesak Risma agar memenuhi janjinya menghibahkan lahan sekolah milik Kementerian Sosial tersebut.

Namun, Risma tetap tidak bisa hingga akhirnya mantan Wali Kota Surabaya itu pun sujud di kaki salah satu guru tunanetra.

"Saya sujud," ujar Risma sambil membungkuk sujud, ke kaki pengajar itu.

Staf Kementerian Sosial langsung menghampiri dan membangunkan Risma. Sementara itu, pengajar perempuan tunanetra itu masih terus berbicara.

"Jangan begitu, Ibu. Bukan seperti ini maksudnya," ujar Tri, sambil menangis.

Risma meminta agar tidak ada orang yang berbisik-bisik terkait dengan kondisi di Wyata Guna.

Menurut dia, Kemensos bakal membantu masyarakat membutuhkan termasuk dalam hal pendidikan hingga kemandiriannya.

Balai Wyata Guna ini, kata dia, harus digunakan untuk seluruh penyandang disabilitas, bukan hanya penyandang tunanetra.

Ketika dihibahkan dan hanya dipakai untuk penyandang disabilitas netra, Risma khawatir ada anak-anak dengan kebutuhan khusus lainnya yang justru tidak terakomodasi di Wyata Guna.

Risma pun menegaskan kembali bahwa orang-orang dengan kebutuhan khusus seperti penyandang disabilitas sebenarnya bisa mandiri.

Tidak sedikit dari mereka yang kemudian mampu menghasilkan uang justru lebih banyak dibandingkan orang tidak difabel.

Potensi ini yang coba dibangun oleh Kemensos di setiap balai seperti Wyata Guna. Sebab, hal ini pernah dilakukan oleh penyandang disabilitas yang mampu bermusik, untuk kemudian mereka menghasilkan uang dari keahliannya.

"Jadi yang ingin saya omongkan itu apa potensinya (di Wyata Guna). Kita akan bantu walaupun tidak bisa maksimal, tapi anak-anak ini sudah bisa cari uang untuk mereka. Memang harus dilatih secara profesional. Itu yang sedang kita siapkan," ucapnya.