Baznas aids development of batik business for mentally disabled in West Java

The National Zakat Board (Baznas) of the Republic of Indonesia, through its Empowered Disability Group Programme, is assisting in the development of a ‘batik ciprat’ business owned by a group of people with mental disabilities at the Antara Graha Berdaya Foundation in Tambakbaya Village, Kuningan Regency, West Java.

Baznas RI provided business capital worth Rp50 million, which was previously distributed to train independence and restore the mental well-being of those with mental disabilities through batik ciprat production activities.

Saidah noted that skills training and productive business development represent a way to utilise zakat funds to not only meet the basic needs of recipients (mustahik) but also to improve their long-term welfare. She emphasised that proper mentoring is key to ensuring participants can live more independently.

Saidah expressed hope that synergy between the government, Baznas, and the community will continue to be strengthened so that empowerment programmes for vulnerable groups can run sustainably. In this way, the benefits of zakat will not be merely consumptive but will also be able to create economic independence for its recipients.

Meanwhile, the Head of Tambakbaya Village, Lukman Mulyadi, assessed that Baznas’s attention provides not only economic benefits but also a positive impact on the psychological condition of the participants. He stated that the Antara Graha Berdaya Foundation has survived through the spirit of mutual cooperation and the care of various parties. Therefore, the business capital assistance from Baznas serves as both a boost to morale and a reinforcement for the sustainability of the empowerment programme.

“We are very grateful to Baznas RI and Baznas Kuningan Regency for their tangible care through this business capital assistance. This proves that disability groups are also capable of being empowered if given the opportunity,” said Lukman Mulyadi.