Sujana said that Program Peduli, was formerly known as Program Nasional Pemberdayaan Masyarakat (PNPM) Peduli. He added that in the beginning, the program was designed to reach marginalized communities that did not have access to government programs such as PNPM Mandiri Pedesaan.
“Even now there are still officials in Indonesia that do not provide basic services; even refuse to provide National Identity Card (KTP) to citizens because of differences in ethnic race and religion,” said the former Deputy for Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Welfare.
Program Peduli, added Sujana, aids marginalized societies in receiving equal treatment and opportunities; regardless of their differences, as citizens. The programme, part of the government’s effort, is to present the state to those who are most in need such as the SAD in Sumatra.
The workshop, followed by Peduli Night was initiated by SSS Pundi Sumatera with Partnership and the Jambi provincial government. At the event, four district governments highlighted the progress of their SAD empowerment programme to the Deputy Assistant Community Development, Kemenko PMK and Director of Remote Indigenous Community Empowerment (KAT), Ministry of Social Affairs.
Those present included officials from ministries and local governments, bank representative in Jambi, Sahabat Pendukung SAD (Sudung) activists, academics, SAD community and journalists.
Featured at the event were an art display by the SAD community, theater performance by Jambi’s local theatre group and launching of a SAD novel by West Kalimantan novelist, Paul Tao Widodo.
