Public service Risma began her career as a low-ranking public servant in
Surabaya. Before being elected as mayor, she served as a civil servant in the
Surabaya City Government for more than 20 years, rose up to head of Surabaya's Program Controlling Division, and later head of Surabaya Landscape and Cleanliness Department. During Risma's tenure, Surabaya enlarged open spaces such as cemeteries so that they serve as water absorption areas. The city has also added green lanes along main roads and created city forests. Risma's policies have been credited with reducing the severity and duration of floods, prompting calls for flood-prone
Jakarta to emulate her policies. Risma gained popularity for her surprise visits to local public service offices, where she criticized officials for their poor and inefficient performances, accusing them of "sinning" against the public.
Social Affairs Minister On 23 December 2020, Risma was appointed as Social Minister under President
Joko Widodo's cabinet, replacing
Juliari Batubara who had been arrested for bribery. One of her first programs, announced on the day of her appointment, was to reform the aid distribution system by revamping the performance of data management and the social aid delivery system due to the
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, from physical cash handouts to a more transparent bank transfers. She resigned as the Social Minister on 6 September 2024, following her intention to run as a candidate for the Governor of East Java in the
2024 East Java gubernatorial election. ==Awards==