Tutus Setiawan, Eye-Opener of the Visually-Impaired

Tutus Setiawan, Eye-Opener of the Visually-Impaired

SURABAYA: Vision becomes one of the most needed senses by human beings to live their lives. However, it does not mean that without perfect senses, someone is worthless.

As someone who has suffered vision loss since 8 years old, Tutus Setiawan has a positive perspective. Losing the light absolutely makes him fumble in his daily life.
But his passion to move forward never dies.

He deals with various challenges yet proves that his limitation is not an obstacle. Moreover, when other people with same limitation are burdened by society’s stigma doubting their abilities, Tutus is certain that visually-impaired people have the same potential and rights to live their lives like most people do.

Various demeaning comments received by Tutus have ignited his passion even more to prove that the visually-impaired can give significant contribution to the surroundings and society. His heart is moved to establish the Institute of Visually- Impaired People Empowerment (LPT) in Surabaya in 2003. With his four other friends with visual impairment, they are Sugi Hermanto, Atung Yunarto, Tantri Maharani, and Yoto Pribadi, Tutus is determined to erase the negative stigma from society towards visually-impaired people.

Through this institution, the visually-impaired people are presented with various uncommon activities for them, starting from master of ceremonies (MC) training to the introduction of information technology. Not only skills and knowledge, but the activities also enhance their mental to adapt in various conditions in the society.

Presently, the LPT keeps growing and has quite significant impact for the visually-impaired people, not only in Surabaya the City of Heroes, but also in other cities. The literacy movement and various efforts to create independent products become a form of self-assurance for visually-impaired people to affiliate themselves.

Tutus Setiawan’s passion in making a change is in line with Astra’s Unified Spirit for Indonesia (SATU Indonesia). As an awardee of 2015 SATU Indonesia Awards, he hopes that in the future visually-impaired people can live in synergy with the society without feeling inferior or scared to deal with daily lives.

Even though his name is well-known thanks to his achievement, Tutus is still working as a teacher, as it is his childhood dream. As an educator, Tutus needs to adjust the activity schedule in LPT with his main activity. Practically, LPT can only have its activity in late afternoon and on holiday.

“It is true that LPT can run its activity in late afternoon or on the weekend,” said Tutus. “But I do not take that as a shortcoming. LPT is appreciated by many funding because it is non-profitable. We are different. We make money on our own. That is why we got appreciated.”

Representing LPT, Tutus received SATU Indonesia awards in education field and got prize money worth IDR 55 million, which was then used to fund LPT’s operational activities.

It is a major achievement for Tutus to be one of the awardees. When he is asked about what change happened in LPT after getting the appreciation from the 2015 SATU Indonesia Awards in education field, a man who is also a teacher in SMPLBA and SMALBA YPAB Surabaya said, “We get many interviews.”

Tutus’ passion in helping the visually-impaired people is in line with Astra’s aim to prosper with the nation.

For further information, please contact:

Boy Kelana Soebroto

Head of Corporate Communications

PT Astra International Tbk

Ph. 021-508-43-888

About PT Astra International Tbk:
PT Astra International Tbk was established in 1957 in Jakarta as a general trading company under the name Astra International Inc. In 1990, for the purpose of the company’s initial public offering (IPO), the name of the company changed to PT Astra International Tbk, followed by listing its shares on the Indonesia Stock Exchange under the ticker code ASII.

Astra has developed its business by implementing a business model based on synergies and diversification within seven business segments, consisting of: 1) Automotive, 2) Financial Services, 3) Heavy Equipment, Mining, Construction & Energy, 4) Agribusiness, 5) Infrastructure and Logistics, 6) Information Technology and 7) Property.

Astra conducts business operations in all parts of Indonesia under the management of 232 subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, and is supported by 225,523 employees, as per June 2019.

As one of the national biggest group corporations at the moment, Astra has built its strong reputation through offering a range of high-quality products and services, with regard to the implementation of good corporate governance and environmental governance. Astra continually aspires to become a corporate citizen that is a pride of the nation, one who is actively involved in the national efforts to improve the welfare of the Indonesian people.

To this end, Astra runs business activities by a balanced combination of the business’ commercial interests and non- business contributions through 9 foundations it nurtures, also through ongoing social responsibility programs focused on four basic areas: health, education, environment and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) development.

Astra initiates a program called Astra’s Unified Spirit for Indonesia Awards (SATU Indonesia Awards) entering its one decade this year where the program has appreciated 245 young people, consisting of 53 national awards recipients and 192 provincial awards recipients in five fields, they are Health, Education, Environment, Entrepreneurship, and Technology. Astra also develops 81 Astra Green Villages and 645 Astra Prosperous Villages in 34 provinces across Indonesia.

For more info, please visit www.astra.co.id & www.satu-indonesia.com.