Free homecoming together: ANTARA's tangible contribution to the nation

Jakarta (ANTARA) - ANTARA’s Director of Finance and Risk Management, Aria Bimo Setyo Pramono, stated that the Free Homecoming Together Programme represents a tangible contribution from ANTARA to the Indonesian state. This year, ANTARA is once again organising the Free Homecoming Programme using train transportation, with 140 participants joining in two waves. “We have endeavoured to contribute to the government, the state, and state-owned enterprises as well. We also hope to reduce accidents, which has been a key focus of the state for some time,” said Aria while seeing off the second wave of free homecoming participants with ANTARA at Pasar Senen Station, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday. In the first wave with the Gumarang train, 60 participants were dispatched. This first wave departed on Sunday (15/3) on the route from Jakarta Pasar Senen Station to Pasar Turi Station in Surabaya, East Java. Aria explained that ANTARA has three objectives in organising this programme again: first, to assist lower and middle-class communities with homecoming; second, to participate in minimising traffic accidents; and third, to enhance ANTARA’s closeness with the public. “Certainly, we support the joint homecoming initiative from state-owned enterprises and the government. We hope this can reduce traffic density,” Aria stated. He added that LKBN ANTARA not only assists the government and society through news reporting and homecoming education but also provides tangible support in the form of homecoming facilitation. “Hopefully, with the families participating in the joint homecoming, they can be cheerful and happy, gathering with the people they love,” said Aria. Ferona, who has participated in ANTARA’s Free Homecoming Programme three times, admitted that the programme allows her to homecoming more calmly without fear of running out of return tickets. “It allows for more budget savings for migrants like me and eliminates the need to queue for train tickets, so it’s more relaxing,” said Ferona. She also mentioned that the registration process for general participants in this programme is very straightforward. “The process is very easy, just fill in the data. After that, just wait for the information, and luckily, I’ve always been selected to homecoming with ANTARA,” she said.