3rd DKI Jakarta Gubernatorial Debate Highlights Disability Issues

Tangerang, Kartunet - The final round of the debate between the candidates for governor and deputy governor of DKI Jakarta focused on population and improving the quality of life for Jakarta's residents. One of the main issues was local government policy regarding services for people with disabilities. This topic was certainly highly anticipated by Jakarta's residents with disabilities, who, despite the DKI KPUD (General Election Commission) stating that only 5,000 individuals were included in the Permanent Voter List (DPT), are certainly more numerous in reality. This certainly serves as a note for the KPUD to better register voters with disabilities, as the author, who is visually impaired and has been voting since the 2009 General Election, was not included in the 2017 Regional Election DPT. Thus, the number of votes from people with disabilities could determine the outcome after February 15th. A regional leader who accommodates the needs of and actively involves people with disabilities in every policy is not only important for those with Jakarta ID cards but also for those who carry out daily activities in Jakarta. This is because many people with disabilities do not have Jakarta ID cards but live around Jakarta and commute daily to Jakarta for work or to earn a living. Many also come from various regions across Indonesia to Jakarta in search of education or employment opportunities that are not yet adequate for people with disabilities. In other words, for people with disabilities, whoever leads Jakarta in the future will have a significant direct or indirect impact. There are several things the disability community anticipates as commitments from the candidates in this year's DKI Jakarta Regional Election. Firstly, regarding the accessibility of transportation and public facilities. How mass and affordable transportation like buses and angkots (public minivans) can be properly accessed, how sidewalks and pedestrian bridges can have guiding blocks for visually impaired pedestrians and ramps for wheelchair users, how every tall building is equipped with lifts that have Braille symbols and voice notifications, and much more. This is important because it can encourage people with disabilities to travel independently and affordably, allowing them to integrate more fully into society. Furthermore, it also makes it easier for them to get to work or educational institutions. The next thing that is a need for many people with disabilities is the local government's commitment to employment. The elected governor and deputy governor must be brave enough to commit to fulfilling employment opportunities. Currently, many people with disabilities have pursued education up to a bachelor's degree level, not only Jakarta residents but also those who come from various regions across Indonesia. They need decent jobs and opportunities to become entrepreneurs. It will be interesting to see if the next governor can ensure that companies in Jakarta employ 2 percent of their total workforce as people with disabilities, in accordance with the mandate of Law No. 8 of 2016. This is followed by a commitment to overseeing private or government buildings that are disability-friendly, and ensuring that companies do not use inaccessible workplaces as an excuse to reject workers with disabilities. And most importantly, before the provincial government encourages the private sector to open up employment opportunities for people with disabilities, will it dare to set an example by ensuring that at least 2 percent of civil servants (PNS or ASN) working in DKI are people with disabilities? Not to be overlooked is the entrepreneurial sector. A leader who is willing to commit to empowering people with disabilities through independent entrepreneurship is awaited. The local government must be present and participate in mentoring them so they can also become entrepreneurs and facilitate access to capital and capacity building. Beyond that, the government can also play a role in making their businesses sustainable, not just ending with training and capital provision. With policies and goodwill towards people with disabilities, this can be achieved. The easiest example the DKI government can implement is by empowering people with disabilities in social welfare institutions. These places can be likened to factories, and the people with disabilities there are the workers. They can be trained to start a laundry business, for example, with capital and machine assistance from the government. Through its policies, the government can ask regional hospitals, for instance, to provide their regular orders to the laundries in these institutions. Thus, orders can continue, people with disabilities gain employment and income, and social welfare institutions not only cease to be a burden on the regional budget but can also contribute to taxes. There are still many hopes from people with disabilities, especially in DKI Jakarta, for the upcoming elected governor and deputy governor. They need a leader who is brave enough to commit to and execute these promises to improve the welfare of people with disabilities as subjects of development, not merely objects of public image. Don't forget to watch the 3rd debate of the DKI Jakarta Governor and Deputy Governor candidates on February 15th, starting at 7 PM. May Jakarta become better for its residents with disabilities.(DPM)