When Women Support the Infrastructure Development in East Lombok

To improve the family economy, women often take part in helping their husbands' role in earning income. Sometimes the work that women do is work that is identical to the men.

Elma Oktavia is a tough woman who has to support her children alone. Currently, Elma is also a worker in one of the infrastructure reconstruction programs in Sembalun Bumbung Village, Sembalun District. This program conduct by Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI) together with UNDP Petra.

Elma works as a farmer in the fields every day to support her children, but she often feels worried if she only relies on her job as a farmer. Elma then took the initiative to do this work to support the family income.

"I am working now because I need additional income to be able to meet the needs of my family, as well as help people who are farmers to use this embung to irrigate their agricultural land," said Elma.

A large number of family needs and the impact of the pandemic that she has felt have made Elma undertake to work as an embung construction worker. Not only Elma a woman who participates in this program, but there is also Hasratul Aena, who is familiarly called Aena, who is also a worker and farmer who owns the land around the embung. Aena also feels proud to be able to join the development program.

"I am proud to be a woman who can work to improve Embung Nap-Nap as a community irrigation route that can advance and improve our agricultural products in Sembalun. Yes, even though this is a male worker," said Aena.

During this infrastructure reconstruction program, WVI invites women to be able to participate in every program by treating them equally. It is hoped that women's involvement in every WVI program can improve gender equality in society.

Written by: Siluh Puspita, Lombok Earthquake Response Staff Wahana Visi Indonesia