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

The National Alms Agency (Baznas) RI, through its Empowered Disability Groups Programme, is helping to develop a splatter batik business owned by a group of people with mental disabilities at the Antara Graha Berdaya Foundation, Tambakbaya Village, Kuningan Regency, West Java. Baznas RI provided business capital assistance worth Rp50 million, which was disbursed earlier to train independence and aid the mental recovery of people with mental disabilities through splatter batik production activities. Saidah assessed that skills training and productive business development represent a utilisation of zakat funds that not only helps meet the basic needs of mustahik but also improves their welfare in the long term. According to her, proper mentoring is key to enabling the participants to live more independently. Saidah hopes that synergy between the government, Baznas, and the community will continue to be strengthened so that empowerment programmes for vulnerable groups can run sustainably. Thus, the benefits of zakat are not merely consumptive but are also capable of creating economic independence for the recipients. Meanwhile, Tambakbaya Village Head Lukman Mulyadi assessed that Baznas’s attention not only provides economic benefits but also has a positive impact on the psychological condition of the assisted residents. He said that so far, the Antara Graha Berdaya Foundation has survived thanks to the spirit of mutual cooperation and the concern of various parties. Therefore, the business capital assistance from Baznas serves as a morale boost as well as reinforcement for the sustainability of the empowerment programme. “We are very grateful to Baznas RI and Baznas Kuningan Regency for their tangible concern through this business capital assistance. This proves that disability groups are also capable of being empowered if given the opportunity,” said Lukman Mulyadi.