Deputy Minister for Women's Empowerment Encourages Women's Involvement in Coastal Restoration in Indragiri Hilir

The Riau Regional Police, through the ‘Ekspedisi Merah Putih Presisi’ movement, is carrying out environmental restoration in Kuala Selat Village, Kateman District, Indragiri Hilir Regency. The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection is encouraging the restoration effort to involve women.

Deputy Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Veronica Tan, who attended the Riau Police’s Ekspedisi Merah Putih on Saturday (15/8/2026), said the ministry’s presence was to ensure that coastal women are empowered as the backbone of their families as well as key drivers of environmental recovery.

‘The presence of the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection is to ensure that the hectares of land planted with mangroves can be worked by women, meaning that women are not only beneficiaries but also actors,’ said Veronica Tan.

She therefore urged that the mangrove rehabilitation activities on more than 1,200 hectares of land involve collaboration with women.

‘Because many women are the backbone of their families and they are farmers, and this is what we need to work on as a collaboration of the Red and White Cabinet,’ said Veronica Tan.

On the same occasion, Minister of Environment Jumhur Hidayat expressed his appreciation to the Riau Police for the Ekspedisi Merah Putih Presisi movement. According to him, this strategic step is very much needed as a concrete effort to restore coastal areas damaged by abrasion.

‘The Ekspedisi Merah Putih Presisi, which is also promoted by the National Police Chief, is a way of restoring the environment. This area really needs an extraordinarily large environmental restoration effort,’ said Jumhur.

Jumhur affirmed his commitment to carrying out restoration in the coastal area. Of the target of 1,200 hectares of affected land, the Riau Police together with the Ministry of Environment and the Riau Provincial Government have replanted 500 hectares with mangroves.

‘I am also committed to ensuring the planting of 500 hectares affected by abrasion. The remainder will hopefully be fulfilled with 1,000 hectares planted in this area as part of environmental restoration, as well as the socio-economic recovery of the community,’ he added.

He appreciated the Ekspedisi Merah Putih initiated by Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan. He hoped the concrete steps would have a multiplier effect.

‘And of course this is a follow-up to the Ekspedisi Merah Putih movement driven by the Riau Police Chief, here in Riau and especially in Indragiri Hilir Regency. Hopefully it will bring benefits and blessings to all of us,’ he continued.

Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan said the Ekspedisi Merah Putih Presisi is an effort by the Riau Police to bring the state to coastal areas while addressing the real problems faced by the community.

‘We want people living far away on the coast to also feel the presence of the state. We come bringing care and moving together to find solutions,’ said Inspector General Herry.

According to the Police Chief, abrasion is not only an environmental issue, but also concerns the living space and livelihoods of the community.

‘When the coast is eroded, what is at stake is not only land. There are community gardens, sources of livelihood and the future of the next generation. Protecting mangroves means protecting the people who live behind them,’ he said.