THE EDITOR – It’s no secret that women still lack their rights as human beings in this world. However, there is one important part that has rarely been seen, which is how to educate women to care about their own rights.
Indira Yusuf Ismail said that one way for women to obtain their full rights is through education.
The Chairperson of the PKK (Family Welfare Empowerment) Team and wife of Makassar Mayor Danny Pomanto is known to be very focused on promoting the welfare of women and children in her city.
In a short conversation with The Editor on Tuesday (24/9/2024) evening, Indira said that she still hopes that an international class education system can be available in every sub-district town in Makassar.
So far, according to her, one of the causes of early marriage in Makassar is due to the lack of education for women and mothers-to-be.
How is The Process?
Indira revealed that during her time as Chairperson of the Makassar City PKK, she discovered that early marriage is still one of the problems that must be resolved by the government.
Early marriage in Makassar, she continued, is common among women from the lower middle class. Even though these marriages are not forced, women are still the ones who are disadvantaged.
“If it’s an early marriage, maybe the honeymoon is one month. It’s a relief if it’s one month, but if (there is a honeymoon), the problem (arises) already (first). So, in solving this problem, some women are short-minded, some are long-minded. So, we educate them,” she said.
One of the ways Indira has been able to play a role in promoting the welfare of women and children is by establishing a shelter that provides legal aid and counseling.
Indira said she has asked the Makassar City Government through the Women’s Empowerment Office to provide such shelters in every sub-district in the city.
“That place will be a solution for women in finding a way out,” she said.
Primary School Education is the Key
Indira is known to be proposing herself as one of the candidates for the Mayor of Makassar who will compete in the 2024 elections.
When asked about the women’s and children’s empowerment programme, she said that she hopes the programme will succeed as soon as possible.
This is because women’s empowerment, illiteracy eradication, and early marriage prevention programmes can help people understand how to create a prosperous family.
“If possible, tomorrow,” she said with a laugh.
For Indira, education is not just for women who work in offices. But it is also for women who choose to be housewives.
When married, she continued, women must also have the ability to educate their husbands and children. Such knowledge, she believes, can only be obtained by women in educational institutions.
“If all married women can build family resilience, I think the existing problems can be eliminated,” she said.
On the other hand, Indira is also collaborating with the Makassar City Education Office so that early childhood education (PAUD) schools in Makassar have international standards.
Schools in the city’s 15 sub-districts are targeted for this programme, starting from kindergarten, primary, junior high and senior high schools.
Indira’s target is for one of the 15 sub-districts to have international standard schools. If successful, she wants every sub-district to have the same programme.
“I am confident. I told the government that this programme must be fulfilled,” she said.
“Bunda Paud (Indira) in this period is working with the Education Office to create Paud Schools in 15 sub-districts in Makassar City (so the total number of schools should be 15 schools), but now only 2 schools have been built in 2 sub-districts, namely Mariso and Tamalate sub-districts. And now there are still 3 schools under construction,” she said again.
Fighting for An Office for PKK
There are many interesting stories about the things Indira does. She is not only focused on education and women.
One of the things she did to fight for women’s rights was to encourage the formation of PKK offices.
“Previously, Makassar City PKK did not have an office. Once it had an office, it was then taken by the Education Office. Then I built an office in Karimusu, beautified it, and it was taken again,” she said.
“We had an office in the Rumah Jabatan (Rujab) eventually. But it’s a hassle when there are guests. Finally, I asked for an office for the PKK as we help the government programmes and face the community directly. We are in contact with the community. And finally Makassar has a representative office,” she added.
Firm even though Her Husband is A Mayor
As the wife of the mayor, Indira said that she is always assertive in conveying important government programmes to the community.
In her daily life at home and in the office, she said that she always takes advantage of the moment to convey the needs of the people she meets while serving as Chairperson of the PKK Movement Team.
She admitted that she would even wait until the right time for her husband, Danny Pomanto, who serves as the Mayor of Makassar, to know what problems are being faced by the Makassar PKK in various fields.
“When I meet him (Danny Pomanto), I tell him we have to fight. He will forget if we don’t remind him,” she said.
“I am adamant that I really fight for it,” she added.
Nevertheless, Indira insists that her husband supports her contributions to education and women’s welfare during her stint as Chairperson of the Makassar PKK.
