The statement was made by chief executive of the behavioral supervisory of financial services business, education, and consumer protection at OJK, Friderica Widyasari, in an interview after the "Financial Education for People with Disabilities" event here on Tuesday.
She explained that state-owned PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk has said that it has automated teller machines (ATMs) for people with disabilities. However, the wide spectrum of people with disabilities remains a challenge.
For example, the approach for blind people would have to be different from that for mute people, she pointed out.
"So, indeed, the spectrum is very wide, (so) it really needs concern and willingness from PUJK (financial services businesses) to provide services to our brothers and sisters who have disabilities," she said.
In addition, she also pointed out the hardship experienced by people with disabilities in getting insurance services because they are seen as sick.
People with certain disabilities also have difficulty opening bank accounts because they cannot write their signatures, considering that not all banking services approve signatures from people representing disabled people.
"I think concerns like that need to become a shared awareness for us to then provide access to our brothers and sisters (with disabilities), even equal access to financial products and services in Indonesia," she added.
Widyasari further said that people with disabilities must be provided guidance about managing their finances well, for example, when obtaining credit from a bank, to prevent them from becoming trapped in debt.
"We will continue to accompany our brothers and sisters, and if we see, the potential is extraordinary. Today, we all must learn from them, their determination to survive, and also to be able to access things that most people might think are beyond them, but they still want to learn," she added.
Related news: OJK strives for inclusive digital finance with consumer protection
Related news: OJK anticipates financial misconduct towards disabled people
Translator: M Baqir Idrus, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
