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SOE Ministry to assist veterans, former athletes
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PLN president director Sofyan Basir leads the Independence Day commemoration in front of the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Ministry in Jakarta on Wednesday. (JP/Muhammad Reza)
T
he Independence Day commemorations combined with the Olympic Games have brought the social welfare of Indonesian veterans and former gold-winning athletes into the spotlight, prompting the government to pledge economic assistance to them.
State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Ministry spokesman Wahyu Wibowo said the ministry would gather support from SOEs to assist them as part of the rewards for their service to the nation. Many veterans and former athletes in the country have fallen on hard times as a result of a lack of long-term support from the government.
"We have coordinated with the Army's engineering directorate [Zeni] to renovate veterans’ homes across the country," he said in a press statement in Jakarta, on Wednesday.
In addition to that, the ministry has also prepared a business training program specifically aimed at 192 retired athletes to improve their economic conditions. They would be given funding and assistance for at least six months, Wahyu said.
"Former boxer champion, Ellyas Pical, and retired karate athlete Omita Ompi, who won five gold medals at the SEA Games, are among those listed as recipients," Wahyu said. (rez/ags)
