Pangkalpinang, (Antaranews Sumbar) - Indonesian women play an important role in developing the young generation, Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister, Puan Maharani, stated.
"Women have an important role in building a healthy and prosperous family, but they are often limited by patriarchal traditions," Maharani noted here on Thursday.
The challenges in women's empowerment and child protection to date include changing the community's permissive attitudes and cultural practices that limit women's progress.
Family development becomes a main area in building a conducive society and culture in women's empowerment and child protection.
Therefore, the family must be a place to care and nurture each other.
"Men must also protect their families," the minister remarked.
Men are responsible for the safety and health of their families, she added.
Earlier, Maharani remarked that the government would accelerate the distribution of rice social assistance (Rastra) in the province of Bangka Belitung.
"Social aid should be distributed to the right target," the minister remarked.
Smart Indonesia Cards (KIP) is symbolically distributed to 250 students from elementary, junior, and high school/vocational school in Pangkalpinang.
Under Supplementary Feeding Program (PMT), pregnant women and elementary students are given as many as 500 kilograms of rice and toddlers are given one ton of rice assistance.
Meanwhile, the Family Hope Program (PKH) is given to 300 beneficiary families. (*)