"We are now finalising a government regulation about concessions for people with disabilities," Yusuf stated at the World Braille Day commemoration event here on Sunday.
Highlighting the importance of a legal basis for the protection of vulnerable communities, the minister said the regulation will provide facilities for people with disabilities to access basic services.
The minister stated that people with disabilities have the same needs as their non-disabled peers, including social protection and assurance of their personal rights by the government, as well as a respectful society.
Moreover, according to government data, around 7 percent of the Indonesian population, equal to 11.3 million, are people with disabilities, and 1.9 million of them were classified as people with medium or major disabilities, he noted.
"Our common 'homework' now is to collectively ensure equal opportunities for people with disabilities in accessing their basic rights," he said.
Yusuf said the protection of the rights of people with disabilities as part of thorough social transformation is mandated by the government's 2025-2045 Long-term Development Plan (RPJPN) which aims for the 2045 Golden Indonesia vision.
"Law No. 8 of 2016 on People with Disabilities is our legal basis to bolster our protection of people who belong in the group," the minister added.
Meanwhile, Arief Pribadi of Rumah Aspirasi Tunanetra Indonesia, a disability advocacy organisation, expected Minister Yusuf to be more attentive and strive to elevate the condition of Indonesia's disabled community.
Pribadi said the organisation he headed has helped with the provision of basic services for people with visual impairment through the provision and distribution of Braille reading materials.
"We also receive a copy of a Jakarta regional law translated and printed in Braille letters for visually impaired people on the Sunday agenda," he added.
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Translator: Lintang Budiyanti, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Arie Novarina
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