Minister values Yogyakarta as a model for quality family development

Minister of Population and Family Development and Head of the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) Wihaji has stated that the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) serves as a model for quality family development, with fathers actively contributing to childcare. “We conducted this visit to meet with father communities in Yogyakarta as part of the family development agenda, which is a series of events for National Family Day. The theme raised is ‘Father Must Be Present’, and DIY is a good example in family development,” he said during the ‘Ngobrol Perkara Gerakan Ayah Teladan Indonesia’ (GATI) event at the Yogyakarta Mayor’s Office on Friday. Wihaji noted that Yogyakarta was chosen as a pilot area because of its high life expectancy. Furthermore, family development indicators in DIY are also considered good. “Yogyakarta is a very pluralistic region, so it is called a ‘mini Indonesia’ and deserves to be an example for other regions,” he said. The minister reminded attendees that, based on family data collection, around 25 per cent of children experience fatherlessness or the loss of a father figure. Therefore, the government is running the ‘Gerakan Ayah Mengambil Rapor’ (Gemar) programme as an effort to encourage fathers to be more involved in their children’s lives. “The role of a father is not limited to fulfilling economic needs or paying school fees, but also fulfilling the child’s psychological needs through presence and communication. I appreciate the many fathers who attended this activity,” Wihaji said. During the event, Wihaji also invited the father community to contribute and share roles in parenting. A participant also provided input regarding the importance of establishing an organisation engaged in the protection of children, women, and families, including fathers. “The President pays great attention to Indonesia’s future generations. Therefore, the Ministry of Population and Family Development/BKKBN received direct direction to focus on family development. The change in nomenclature from BKKBN to the Ministry of Population and Family Development shows the importance of the family as the smallest unit in national development,” Wihaji concluded.