'I've heard about subsidies, but are they real?'<\/p>\n
Life is becoming harder and harder, especially for the poor, due
\nto the rises in fuel and utility charges, which may well trigger
\nan increase in public transportation fares. The government says
\nthat it has provided a fuel-subsidy compensation fund to help the
\npoor. What do the people say?<\/p>\n
Ety, 24, is an employee in a firm in Pulogadung, East Jakarta.
\nShe resides in Cilincing, North Jakarta with her relatives:<\/p>\n
Every day I have to use public transportation which costs me a
\ntotal of around Rp 4,000 per day. This could soon rise to Rp
\n5,000.<\/p>\n
So, how much will I have to spend on transportation alone in a
\nmonth? So far, my monthly expenditure on transportation is more
\nor less Rp 100,000.<\/p>\n
I'll have to be more thrifty with my money as I only get the
\nregional minimum wage, which is less than Rp 600,000 a month. I
\nhave to pay Rp 150,000 per month on rent, and my meals costs more
\nor less Rp 10,000 per day.<\/p>\n
Well, I'm really struggling with life in the city now. But I
\nthink it will be in vain to protest against the government. The
\ngovernment says that it has disbursed fuel hike compensation to
\nthe poor, but I haven't seen any of it.<\/p>\n
Rohman, is a construction worker on a building site on Jl.
\nThamrin, Central Jakarta. He lives in Depok, West Java, with his
\nwife and daughter:<\/p>\n
I feel a major impact from the recent fuel and electricity
\nhikes as I'm a commuter who always uses an electric train to get
\nfrom Depok to my workplace. I have to pay Rp 45,000 now for a
\nmonthly ticket, Rp 13,000 more than before.<\/p>\n
Perhaps, it's just a small amount to some, but for me it's a
\nlot. I only earn Rp 30,000 a day. I have to spend some of this on
\nmy lunch, which costs less than Rp 5,000. The rest is for
\nsupporting my family.<\/p>\n
I have no choice but to accept the impact, right. Otherwise, I
\nwouldn't be able to travel by public transportation, including
\nthe buses and trains.<\/p>\n
I don't feel that the government has paid anything out of the
\nfuel hike compensation fund to help the poor survive. I don't
\neven know what or whom has been subsidized.<\/p>\n
The government is just good for talking nonsense.<\/p>\n
Tonny, is a freelance mechanic. He lives in Kebon Jeruk, West
\nJakarta, with his family:<\/p>\n
The increase in prices is a burden for us. Worse, my income
\nhas not increased.<\/p>\n
I've found that some buses have raised their fares. A few days
\nago, I had an argument with the bus crew over the increase.<\/p>\n
On the one hand, I understand the need to raise fares to cover
\nthe cost of fuel. And on the other hand, I'll have to be more
\neconomical in spending my money.<\/p>\n
I realize that both passengers and the public transportation
\ncrews are always in a difficult situation. Well, like it or not,
\nI'll have to accept the increases.<\/p>\n
In my opinion, the government has mismanaged the economy of
\nthis country. It's not the proper time for the government to
\nincrease fuel and public utility charges at the same time this
\nyear.<\/p>\n
I didn't even know that the government is paying out a
\ncompensation for the reduction in fuel subsidies. I don't know
\nwhether this is underway and is reaching the poor.<\/p>\n
I just hope that the government still has a conscience
\nregarding the misery of low-income people.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ive-heard-about-subsidies-but-are-they-real-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }