The effort to help people with disabilities become independent is being carried out under the social and environmental responsibility program (TJSL), which is being conducted by one of the PLN IP units, PLTP Kamojang in Bandung district, West Java, in the form of mushroom cultivation, President Director of PLN Indonesia Power (PLN IP) Edwin Nugraha Putra informed in a statement issued in Jakarta on Monday.
"The essence of the CSR (corporate social responsibility) or TJSL program is not just disbursing funds or capital, but also effective assistance from the start to the packaging stage and marketing of the assisted MSME products," he said.
The assistance is being provided up to the stage of innovation technology, which, in the end, is expected to help improve the economy of the community around the power plant area, he added.
"This is also a form of PLN's implementation to always carry out environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles in every TJSL program," he said.
Putra explained that all units from PLN IP's operation have made efforts and programs to improve the community's economy.
The inclusive mushroom cultivation business started with treatment activities and the provision of prostheses by Bhakti Indonesia Power Unit Kamojang POMU Clinic.
Now, MSMEs set up by several people with disabilities are becoming independent and earning up to Rp100 million per year, with the help of other mentors, namely through the Kamojang mushroom initiative.
Several mushroom products made by the MSMEs are being sold in the market in the form of mushroom sticks, mushroom chips, mushroom meatballs, and other processed foods made from mushrooms.
Chairperson of the Disability Mushroom Cultivation Group Wiwin Khodijah, who works as an early childhood education teacher, said that she had been in a slump due to her physical condition, but now, she harbors a dream to cultivate mushrooms and live independently despite her limitations.
"Initially, I had diabetes so I had to lose both legs, but I was not discouraged and even now, I dare to dream that through mushroom cultivation, I can live independently," she added.
Putra said that given the increasing demand for processed food products made from mushrooms and oyster mushrooms, the mushroom cultivation group is now continuing to develop its capacity, both in the form of training and innovation, which, of course, are being supported by the PLN IP Kamojang team.
Related news: Minister invites youngsters to start businesses
Related news: PLN provides Rp9.34 trillion stimulus to public, business sectors
Translator: Kelik Dewanto, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
