A birth certificate is one of the safety features that we will always require in order to conduct all of our business in the state. It is compared to a magical card that proves your presence in this world since, with it, we are recognized by the state and receive numerous advantages demanded as citizens.
Yet, the number of registrations for birth certificates for children aged 0 to 18 years has only reached 80 million, or around 35%. This problem also affects eastern Indonesia, including Papua and West Papua, where birth registration is still quite low. Continue reading for more information on this subject.
The Importance of Birth Registration
Every birth is worthy of celebration. Every new pulse that enters the world gives hope and life, completing the jigsaw that is human life. And, to validate this individual’s existence, a recognized proof of identification is necessary.
A birth certificate is a civil registration certificate issued as a consequence of the recording of a person’s birth. So, a birth certificate is provided to provide a person with the right to identification.
Therefore, parents are encouraged to quickly prepare supporting records to welcome their child’s birth. To be specific, the following benefits will be received if a person possesses a clear and state-recognized birth certificate:
- Avoid data modification
- Genealogy or lineage is preserved and accessible to the public
- As legal proof or indisputable documentation of a person’s citizenship status
- When applying for a job
- When applying to an educational institution
- In order to divide the inheritance
- To register a marriage
- etc.
Given these massive advantages of birth certificates, it is not surprising that the government always encourages individuals to record the birth of their children so as to get a birth certificate. This reinforcement is also extremely essential in Papua.
Low Birth Registration Factors
There are several reasons why the civil registration procedure is so low in Papua and West Papua. One issue is that the territories of the land are quite complex. For this reason, we require particular systematic solutions to address this dilemma. Here’s a more in-depth explanation:
1. The distance between the settlement and the recording location is considerable
Because the plains of Papua are difficult, inequity exists. One of them is the simplicity with which state facilities, such as the distant Civil Registration Service, may be accessed. So, people may feel lethargic and uninterested in collecting birth certificates.
2. Expensive travel costs
Papua and West Papua’s rural inhabitants are exposed to poverty. They are still heavily reliant on nature, so their economic level is poor. As a consequence, spending a lot of money to take care of a birth certificate may be a pipe dream that is tough to realize.
3. The application is unavailable
Again, tedious registration is essential. However, due to limited access, the distribution procedure might be quite challenging. Thus, obtaining a birth certificate has become more difficult.
4. Difficult bureaucracy
Bureaucracy is something that a lot of people despise, especially in rural regions where the majority of people have a simplistic attitude. No wonder this has become one of the reasons behind the low rate of birth registration.
5. Lack of comprehension of the document management process
Many people are still unsure about the documentation that must be completed to receive a birth certificate. On the contrary, it is not uncommon for the general public to lose motivation to care for this vital document.
Improving Levels of Birth Registration
In basic terms, the plan requires that birth certificates be processed within 60 days of the day of birth. And you don’t have to wait until you return to your home state to obtain the birth certificate.
That is, as a parent, you may immediately take care of and apply for a birth certificate at the location of delivery. Most recently, the queue management procedure is now available online. This is undeniably advantageous for time-crunched parents.
In addition, while filing for a birth certificate, you will receive additional complimentary papers to help the initiative enhance the quality of human resources in Indonesia. Birth certificates, family cards, and KIA (Child Identity Cards) are samples of such papers.
However, the number of birth registrations in Papua and West Papua is still relatively low. They have the worst population administration in the country. Plus, there is a significant discrepancy in civil registration between urban and rural regions. This is due to economic considerations.
In Papua, urban residents have easier access to civil registration and are more aware of their rights as citizens. Meanwhile, socialization and special funds are still required in remote regions to facilitate the acceleration of identity card possession.
Several initiatives have been taken to strengthen the birth registration process as well as the ownership of other official papers, such as the formation of a three-sector partnership involving village, health, and education.
In simpleton’s words, the village is being asked to aid its residents who do not have comprehensive documentation or state identity, such as birth certificates, in the identification process. Village cadres will escort the paperwork processing procedure to the Dukcapil Office at this village level.
Health services provide supporting documentation in the health industry. For example, one of the primary conditions for administering a birth certificate is the attachment of a birth record. Along with the education or school sector, aiding in data collection for pupils who do not yet have KIA or Child Identity Cards.
In conclusion, it is possible to conclude that a birth certificate is a vital document for a person. To achieve this goal, the government is supposed to collaborate.
