Cheta Nilawaty P., Jakarta – People with disabilities in Indonesia are among the lowest income groups, classified in the first decile, which represents those living at or below the poverty line. According to data from Bappenas, the poverty rate among people with disabilities is 11.42 percent, which is higher than the national poverty rate.
"The poverty rate for people with disabilities in Indonesia is 11.42 percent, which is higher than the national poverty rate, which has decreased to 8.57 percent," said Tirta Sutejo, Director of Poverty Alleviation and Community Empowerment at Bappenas, during the soft launch of the 6th Inclusive Meeting in Cirebon Regency, initiated by the Sasana Inklusi and Disability Advocacy Movement (SIGAB), on Thursday, May 8.
This poverty situation is further exacerbated by the lack of national health insurance coverage for people with disabilities. According to Tirta, approximately 28 percent of people with disabilities do not have national health insurance.
Another indicator showing that people with disabilities are far below the poverty line is their participation rate in the workforce. Tirta noted that the workforce participation rate for people with disabilities in Indonesia is only 44 percent.
"This is still far below the national workforce participation rate of 69 percent, and most of these individuals are employed in the informal sector," he said. The situation is further compounded by their low educational levels.
According to Tirta, structural challenges in providing access to basic services for Indonesians remain high. Therefore, inclusive policies based on disaggregated data are needed to create inclusive services for people with disabilities. "This is essential to ensure that no Indonesian citizen is left behind in realizing the Golden Indonesia Vision for 2045," Tirta said.
The Golden Indonesia Vision emphasizes human development, sustainable economic growth, equitable development, and a strong national defense. The National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN) 2025 serves as a roadmap to achieve this vision.