Baznas Inaugurates Clean Water Well Programme in Central Tapanuli
The National Board of Zakat (Baznas) RI, in collaboration with PT Bank Neo Commerce Tbk (BNC), has introduced new clean water well facilities for the community in Lopian Village, Badiri District, Central Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra. The aid was officially inaugurated during a handover ceremony held at the Head Office of PT Bank Neo Commerce Tbk in South Jakarta.
The procurement programme for these clean water facilities was realised through the commitment of PT Bank Neo Commerce Tbk and its employees. The collected alms (infak) funds were managed and distributed precisely by Baznas to build water infrastructure to meet the daily needs of residents in the Central Tapanuli region.
Rizaludin Kurniawan, Head of Mobilisation and Collection, expressed appreciation for the banking sector’s concern regarding the basic needs of the community. He noted that this collaboration serves as an example of how religious social funds can be optimised to provide concrete, long-term solutions for the welfare of the people.
“We are very grateful for the trust and support provided by PT Bank Neo Commerce Tbk through the distribution of this corporate alms. This borehole well construction programme is not merely physical aid, but a joint effort to improve the quality of life, health, and productivity of communities that have long struggled to access clean water,” Rizaludin stated in a written release on Wednesday.
He emphasised that transparency and precision in targeting remain Baznas’s top priorities in managing these funds. The completed borehole facilities are expected to be utilised to their full potential and maintained collectively by the beneficiary communities.
Meanwhile, Argo Sayoto, Head of the Baznas Corporate Zakat Division, stated that the programme focuses on assisting educational facilities affected by natural disasters in North Sumatra. The corporate alms from PT Bank Neo ‘Commerce Tbk’ were specifically allocated by Baznas to build sanitation infrastructure at a school in Central Tapanuli Regency.
“Recent floods caused not only casualties but also physical damage, including to educational facilities. Therefore, the donation from Bank Neo Commerce is being channelled to the affected areas, specifically for the construction of borehole wells in Central Tapanuli,” Argo said during the ceremony.
Adrian Soewardjo, Chief Operations Officer of Bank Neo Commerce, explained that this step was taken after management observed the significant impact of disasters in Sumatra on access to clean water, which is crucial for community recovery. He asserted that the bank is committed to contributing meaningfully to society alongside business growth.
“Bank Neo Commerce’s commitment is to always be part of real action for the communities around us. We do not only look at business growth, but we also care about what happens in society, especially during disasters,” he said.
This clean water provision programme also serves as an implementation of President Prabowo Subianto’s ‘Asta Cita’ mission to achieve national water security and sovereignty.