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Film

Denied Assistance

Indonesian Welfare Policy Withholds Support for Persons with Disabilities

A technicality in Indonesian social assistance policy has left many persons with disabilities without financial support from the government. In Jakarta, the distribution of public social assistance is decided by a process known as the Integrated Social Welfare Management System (DTKS), which uses criteria such as property ownership to determine whether or not a person will receive government support. According to Yeni Rosa Damayanti, chairperson of the Indonesian Mental Health Association, DTKS is usually based on the circumstances of families, rather than individuals. This makes many people with disabilities who live with their families ineligible for cash assistance from programs like the Jakarta Persons with Disabilities Card (KPDJ), even if they have no individual source of income. “Bambang,” an Indonesian man with a psychosocial disability, explains how this paradox has left him with no way to receive KPDJ, making him completely dependent on his family for survival. *Video includes audio descriptions. *Read along by clicking the cc button on your YouTube player.

*Click here for the Bahasa Indonesia version of this film.

Photo of Kinanty Andini.

Filmmaker: Kinanty Andini

Kinanty “Kinan” Andini is a freelance graphic design and digital artist and a psychosocial disability activist. She is affiliated with the Indonesian Mental Health Association (IMHA), also known as Perhimpunan Jiwa Sehat. She collaborated with other IMHA members to create a short film series, “AADM (What’s Wrong with Mental Disability)" about the underreported experiences of persons living with psychosocial disabilities. IMHA advocates for the rights of Indonesians with psychosocial disabilities based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. IMHA’s activities include advocacy, campaigns, lobbying, legal efforts, media, public awareness, trainings, workshops, research, seminars, discussions, and more.

Andini is passionate about visual arts, particularly graphic design and digital art/illustration. In 2019, she produced banners and posters for a competition held by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Last year, she worked as a video content creator intern at a company in Jakarta. She plans to channel her digital design and artistic skills into animation, digital comics, games, and advertising. Follow her on Instagram to check out her digital art.

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