Minister of Social Affairs Dr. Ir Tri Rismaharini MT (second from left) with the rector and executive boards of ITS when discussing problems in rural areas and Indonesian borders at ITS

ITS Campus, ITS News – Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Dr. (HC) Ir. Tri Rismaharini M.T. (Risma) offered Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) to collaborate with several programs from the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) during her visit on Monday (14/2). Located in the ITS Rectorate Building, the agreed collaboration includes technological innovation to facilitate transportation and water availability in several remote and border areas in Indonesia.

Risma, the Minister of Social Affairs, said that many areas in the frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged (3T) sites have difficulty getting clean water. As experienced by the people of Alor Island, the tip of the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province, they have to cross to Pantar Island to get water.

Minister of Social Affairs Dr. Ir Tri Rismaharini MT and rector of ITS, Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng with ITS executive board when discussing solutions to community problems in the 3T area

The area in Asmat Regency, Papua, has difficulty growing crops and obtaining freshwater. It’s all because the contours of the land tend to swamps. “They are struggling. A mother on Alor Island cannot return to her home after getting water because the waves are high,” he said with compassion.

Responding to similar problems in other 3T areas, rector of ITS, Prof. Dr. Ir. Mochamad Ashari M.Eng. enthusiastically welcomed the opportunity given by the Ministry of Social Affairs. “With pleasure, ITS is ready to contribute with the Ministry of Social Affairs to support Indonesia’s development,” he said.

ITS Automotive STP Manager Dr. Bambang Sudarmanta ST MT (right) when delivering the latest report on the distribution of GESITS electric motors in Papua

ITS and the Ministry of Social Affairs agreed to several collaboration plans in this meeting. Among them is further research by ITS to review some areas where clean water is difficult to find. The innovations includes idea of growing plants in swamp areas, portable seawater converter, and procurement of solar panels in areas with minimal electricity. In addition, the plan also includes organizing actual work lectures (KKN) and practical work (KP) for ITS students to help the target area of Ministry of Social Affairs.

Rector of ITS, Prof. Ir. Mochamad Ashari MEng (right) with Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Dr. (HC) Ir. Tri Rismaharini MT while leading a collaboration discussion at the ITS Rectorate Building

In addition, Risma also followed up on the procurement of passenger ships for the people of Memberamo, Papua. Moreover, there are also GESITS electric motors for community mobility in the mountains of Papua, the result of collaboration with ITS and Universitas Cendrawasih (Uncen) last year. “Currently, four ships have been successfully assembled, which will later be used for public water transportation in Memberamo,” said the former mayor of Surabaya.

In addition to the ship assembly process, two types of GESITS electric motors have also arrived. They are designed for mountainous areas with standard slopes and steep slopes. “Currently, two GESITS electric motors have arrived in Jayapura. They are waiting for their launch and technology transfer to the surrounding community,” said ITS Automotive Techno Park (STP) Science Manager Dr. Bambang Sudarmanta ST MT.

(from left) Rector of ITS for the 2011-2015 period, Prof. Dr. Ir Triyogi Yuwono DEA, Minister of Social Affairs Dr. Ir Tri Rismaharini MT, Rector of ITS Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng, and Rector of ITS for the 2015-2019 period Prof. Ir Joni Hermana MScES PhD taking pictures after meeting at ITS

At the end of the meeting, Risma revealed that the Papuan people were pleased to receive the assistance that far exceeded their expectations. He hopes that in the future, similar collaborations with ITS will continue. Not to forget, the rector of ITS also thanked the Ministry of Social Affairs for trusting ITS. “Innovation ideas from ITS will certainly be difficult to realize to the community without government support like this,” said Ashari with a smile. (NA/ITS Public Relation)

Reporter: Fathia Rahmanisa