UNS — Because of the decrease in household income due to the Covid-19 Pandemic according to Dr. Rina Herlina Haryanti, S.Sos., M.Si., a researcher of the Population and Gender Research Study Center (PPK3G) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, the resilience of diffable women as the family economy valve is susceptible. Holding a title as a woman and diffable person, they still required to take care of their family domestic affairs as well as working in the public sector.
To uns.ac.id, Dr. Rina states that higher education institutions or universities should take a serious role in handling this problem. Especially UNS that already adds Inclusive Campus as its education standard indicators. This message was delivered through a social assessment that includes the education sector, community service program, and innovative products to support diffable people.
“Community service must look into the section that rarely seen. We can take part in improving their skills, delivering knowledge, and introducing production tools or equipment. This is where we can share,” Dr. Rina states on Tuesday (16/2/2021).
Further, she recounts the time when they discuss with diffable colleagues, one of the participants states that they do not have a place to market their craft. Even sometimes they can only produce their craft and sold them in front of their house. “UNS can provide a place for this community to move. UNS through the Special Education Study Program, the Faculty of Engineering with their innovations, Center for Disability Study, can have a significant role,” Dr. Rina adds.
For the implementation, Dr. Rina states that UNS can collaborate with partner institutions or companies that need to do a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. Students can also involve through the Student Community Service Program (KKN), team-based projects, and other learning methods, considering that the Kampus Merdeka program is already in implementation. For instance, a student from State Administration Science Study Program, who learned how the state policy works in mainstreaming diffability and community governance. Not only in the technical aspect, but they can also learn how to be more sensitive and care about what happens in the community.
The importance of Community
From the individual point of view, Dr. Rina opined that diffable women have to improve their knowledge regarding a health conditions, do more innovation, and enhancing their creativity as needed during a pandemic. However, in this aspect, community support is needed as a networking place and to develop oneself.
“Community have a link to the governments, to the private companies that need to do CSR. At least they can have access and know their rights, the facilities they can have from the state. This does not encourage ‘to request or ask for something, but at least it is important for them to know their rights,” Dr. Rina explains.
Regarding access to the governments, there is a need to improve political education. One of the education conducted by the PPKG UNS is delivered through the program ‘Woman and Inspiration Dialog’ in collaboration with RRI Surakarta on 4 February 2021. On the occasion, Dr. Rina, who attended the program as a speaker, deliver material on ‘Diffable Women Resilience During the Pandemic’. The discussion earns a positive response from the public, although it is more dominated by the elderly.
“This becomes our homework. We are working on a cross-generation section. It is important to instill social care value in the youth, thus, they can understand the social condition in their surrounding environment,” Dr. Rina concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Kaffa Hidayati
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
