Social Services Ministry opens working meeting

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto opened a working meeting of the Ministry of Social Services Saturday with a call for the Ministry to help people with social problems develop their self- esteem and independence.

"When they have self-esteem, they will end their dependency on others and will no longer expect outside help," said the president.

"Our success in developing this sense of pride among people with social problems is a measure of our ability to help them," he explained.

Soeharto underlined the need for the prevention of social problems.

"This, however, should be done without compromising rehabilitation efforts or the extension of aid," the president told members of the meeting at the state palace.

Soeharto said the Ministry should involve other social organizations in helping to carry out the task.

The president stated that the social organizations should continue to improve the quality of their services.

"People should also be encouraged to become social workers," he added.

The president noted the participation of the public in helping victims of the recent various natural disasters which hit the country.

"This attitude indicates that the level of social solidarity among us remains high. Such a high level of awareness needs to be maintained, as it also reflects our unity," he said.

The Ministry of Social Services, he said, has a difficult task of helping improve the quality of life of people with social problems, including beggars, drops-out, disabled workers and those who, due to one reason or another, have become homeless.

"But the task will be made easier because of the high level of social awareness among our people," Soeharto said.

Present at the opening were Minister of Social Services Inten Soeweno, Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher and Minister of Home Affairs Yogie S.M. (lem)