Free ride for streets vendors<\/p>\n
TANGERANG (JP): Some 2,000 street traders working in several
\nareas of Tangerang packed on Monday into 32 buses bound for their
\nrespective hometowns in Java to celebrate the upcoming Idul Fitri
\nfestivities.<\/p>\n
Unlike hundreds of thousands of other seasonal travelers who
\nhave to struggle to get a seat, the traders did not even have to
\nspend any money for the trip, as the buses were paid for in full
\nby PT Alfa Retailindo, the trading arm of the Sampoerna Group.<\/p>\n
Since last week, terminals in the capital have been crowded
\nwith people queuing for intercity buses to take them home for the
\nIdul Fitri celebrations.<\/p>\n
Alfa Retailindo's president Joko Susanto officially saw off
\nthe convoy from the Alfa superstore in Cikokol, and said the free
\ntrip for the street vendors was meant to thank them for helping
\nthe firm sell its goods.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully, the number of traders joining this scheme will be
\nmuch greater next year,\" Joko said, adding that the service was
\nthe first one ever held by the company.<\/p>\n
Twelve of the buses left for Cirebon and eight for Kuningan,
\nboth in West Java; seven for Yogyakarta and Solo in Central Java;
\nand five others for Tegal and Semarang, also in Central Java.<\/p>\n
Besides the free trip, the 10-year-old retail company, which
\ncurrently manages 20 discount stores in 14 cities and eight
\nwholesale stores across the country, also handed over Idul Fitri
\ngifts of kopiah (Muslim prayer caps), sarongs and cakes.<\/p>\n
Sumarso, 39, a vendor in the Kebon Nanas area, highly
\nappreciated such an unexpected gift.<\/p>\n
\"The money which I would have spent for the bus fare can be
\nused for other things,\" he said happily.<\/p>\n
Kusnadi, 27, who vends at Cimone bus terminal, said, \"I hope
\nthat this kind of free service can be given to us every Idul
\nFitri holiday.\" (41\/bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/free-ride-for-streets-vendors-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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