Creating Economic Value, Pertamina Empowers People to Promote Yogyakarta Local Culture Through Batik

Sleman, August 16, 2022 - Through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, Pertamina empowers batik artisans groups, especially those from Jatisawit Village, Gamping District, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta (DIY). The batik business program uses DIY cultural values as the theme.

Area Manager of Communication, Relations, & CSR for the Central Java Region of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, Brasto Galih Nugroho, said that the program is a concern for the community around the operation location, such as the Rewulu Fuel Terminal.

"We started this program in 2018 by fostering the Batik Sekar Jatimas Group consisting of 20 housewives by carrying activities including training, mentoring, and several production facilities assistance," he concluded.

Brasto said these community groups consist of housewives with no income.

"With this program, it can create new economic value for each household to increase family income," he added.

Apart from being an additional income source, the community can also participate in preserving local cultural values by implementing DIY cultural values into batik motifs.

“There are at least six batik motifs created by the community through this program, such as the Ronjati motifs, Moon Orchids, and Tri-Color Orchids. We also encouraged these motifs to be registered with patents to be known by the wider community," he said.

Brasto also said that Pertamina continues to encourage artisans groups to innovate in batik production by utilizing environmentally friendly natural batik dyes.

"Generally, batik dyes use chemical-based liquids, but the groups we foster tend to use natural plants around them which are processed into natural dyes so that they are more environmentally friendly and more efficient," he explained.

One of Batik Sekar Jatimas Group members, Lilis, said that her group was able to profit from the batik business that was carried out by at least IDR 8,000,000 per month for group income or IDR 550,000 per month for members.

"Through this effort, we can increase the family's income to meet their daily needs," said Lilis.

She  expressed his gratitude to Pertamina for the assistance provided since 2018.

"We thank Pertamina for helping us develop this batik business. We are also happy because, through our batik, we can expand our region values ​​and cultural identity,” she added.

Together with the Community, Realize the ESG Commitment and Contribution to the SDGs

Brasto explained that the CSR program was operated with the community is Pertamina's ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) implementation commitment.

"This program also contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially point one (No Poverty), point four (Quality Education), point five (Gender Equality), point eight (Employment Eligibility and Economic Growth), point nine (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and point 13 (Climate Change Handling),” he concluded.