Approximately 19.5 million people are expected to join this year’s \'mudik\' (annual exodus), among them people with disabilities. However, disabled people often faced unfair treatment.
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Approximately 19.5 million people are expected to join this year’s mudik (annual exodus), among them people with disabilities. However, disabled people often faced unfair treatment.
It was after dawn on Saturday (9/6/2018) when Rubini, 36, and Watini, 32, prepared to leave the Sasana Bina Daksa Budi Bakti disability care home in Pondok Bambu, Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta. Rubini, who was left paralyzed in both legs in 2007 from a traffic accident in Kebumen, Central Java, took the initiative.
She tapped her cell phone several times, trying to order a taxi from a ride-hailing service company. Soon, she found a driver. Rubini then explained her and Watini’s physical conditions to the driver. “We use wheelchairs,” she messaged the driver through the app. There was no response at first. A moment later, Rubini received one: The driver had rejected the order.
Rubini did not give up. She tried a second time – and then a third time, a fourth time, a fifth time and a sixth time. It was only on her seventh try that she found a driver who was willing to accept her order. “Usually our order is rejected when the driver finds out that the pick-up point is Sasana Bina Daksa,” Rubini said. The facility is a disability care home and social rehabilitation center.
Taking the taxi she had obtained on her seventh attempted order, Rubini and Watini finally arrived at Bank Syariah Mandiri’s central branch on Jl. Thamrin, Jakarta, just a few minutes after 6 a.m. They were taking the free mudik transportation services for disabled holidaymakers that the bank was offering. Rubini was going to Kebumen and Watini to Purbalingga, both in Central Java.
Sixty-five people with disabilities, including those with visual impairments, physical disabilities and speech impairments, had registered for the free service, for which three buses had been readied. The service is called the Child and Disability-Friendly Mudik (MRAD), and complements the bank’s free transportation services for non-disabled people, which had readied 23 buses heading to Sukabumi in West Java as well as Purwodadi and Surakarta in Central Java.
Rubini and her friends always sought out free mudik transportation services for disabled people. These buses had accessibility facilities for disabled people. On trains, for instance, Rubini’s wheelchair could not pass the narrow aisles between seats, so she needed help from others to carry her. “I don’t like to ask for help too often,” she said.
More expensive
Before, she had tried the transportation services offered by travel companies. However, it was expensive, as she also had to pay for her wheelchair. “On the buses that I often use, I only need to pay Rp 50,000 [US$3.6]. However, on buses that I use for the first time, the fee can be Rp 400,000, when non-disabled people only need to pay Rp 180,000,” said Rubini.
Rubini lives at the Sasana Bina Daksa care home in Jakarta. She has not had a job for a while. Since two years ago, Rubini has been training to become a disabled bowling athlete.
Wardi, 50, who is visually impaired, shared Rubini’s difficulties. This year, he is going to Purworejo, Central Java, for Idul Fitri. He said he would take a special bus for disabled people, which was more comfortable. “On regular buses, I have to ask where I am all the time. There are times when the people I ask do not want to answer. If I want to go to the toile, I also need to ask around for help. I do not know where the restroom is,” said Wardi, who works as a masseuse.
Apology
During the free transportation services’ departure ceremony on Saturday, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi promised to provide better facilities in the future. “I personally apologize for not knowing better about the hardships that our disabled brothers and sisters go through. You have rights equal to others,” Budi said, adding that he would provide special buses for disabled people. “I am committed to procure more special buses for disabled people, which we can use to several destinations, including in Sumatra,” he said, to the applause of those in attendance.
After his speech, Budi Karya approached a physically disabled and mute person who was also called Budi, and kissed him on the cheek. Wiping away the tears that fell from behind his glasses, Budi Karya wiped his hands on his trousers.
Minimal attention
The 2016 National Labor Force Survey (Sakernas) showed that 12.15 percent of Indonesians 15 years old and above, or around 22.8 million people, are disabled. They have received minimal government attention.
At Jakarta’s Gambir train station, it was observed that wheelchairs for disabled people and the elderly were inadequate and located only in the VIP area, which visitors rarely passed through. Gambir station head Rizki Afrida said that the wheelchairs had previously been located near every entrance, but they often went missing.
At Terminal 1 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, facilities for disabled people are available but airport staff are relatively slow in responding to those in need. Airport terminal inspection service coordinator Fauzan said that no special officers were tasked with helping disabled people. The accessibility services, such as wheelchairs, are provided by airlines.