A gesture of appreciation came from Lulik Setiyawan, a meatball\nvendor from Karanganyar Regency who presented a pack of bakso to Central\nJava Governor Ahmad Luthfi in gratitude for being able to participate in\nthe programme. The moment occurred when Luthfi greeted participants of\nthe Free Mudik programme of the Central Java provincial government at\nthe Purna Bhakti Pertiwi Museum, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII),\nJakarta, on Monday (16\/3).<\/p>\n
At that time, Luthfi was visiting and greeting the mudik participants\non bus number 21 heading to Karanganyar Regency. During a conversation\nwith the passengers, Luthfi was suddenly offered a pack of bakso.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is your occupation? How many times have you joined the free\nmudik?\u201d Luthfi asked.<\/p>\n
Lulik replied that he works as a street meatball vendor, specifically\nin the South Jakarta area. He shared that he had been participating in\nthe free mudik programme from the Central Java provincial government\nsince 2016 and had managed to save money for his family\u2019s transportation\ncosts home to Karanganyar.<\/p>\n
He then presented a pack of bakso that had been specially prepared\nfor Luthfi. The meatball pack was an expression of gratitude for\norganising the free mudik programme every year.<\/p>\n
\u201cSir, apologies. I have specially prepared this for you, Governor,\u201d\nLulik said.<\/p>\n
Luthfi accepted the pack of bakso with laughter. He also responded by\ngiving a package of snacks as provisions for the journey.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat, I\u2019ve been given bakso. Will you join the free Return to\nHomeland programme next time as well? You can save money. What\u2019s\nimportant is that you\u2019re happy and healthy,\u201d Luthfi said.<\/p>\n
Stories of Migrants Working in Jakarta<\/p>\n
When encountered at the location, Lulik shared that he had moved to\nJakarta after finishing school. Initially, he accompanied his parents,\nwho were also working there.<\/p>\n
Previously, he worked odd jobs and helped his parents sell bakso.\nLater, he married and decided to sell meatballs independently as a\nstreet vendor. Meanwhile, his wife sells traditional herbal\nmedicine.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been selling for almost 25 years. I started with my parents\nhere, then did various jobs, and then began selling meatballs on my own\nafter getting married in 2012,\u201d Lulik explained.<\/p>\n
Lulik\u2019s gross monthly income from selling meatballs averages\napproximately 5 million rupiah. This amount is still reduced by capital\ncosts, housing rent, daily meals, and electricity and water bills.<\/p>\n
\u201cMonthly rent is 800,000 rupiah, and when you add food costs,\nelectricity, and water, the total per month can reach 1 million rupiah,\u201d\nhe explained.<\/p>\n
From this modest income, he still needs to save for his child\u2019s\nschool fees. During the Eid season, expenses increase significantly\nbecause he must return to his hometown. The highest burden is naturally\nthe bus fare to Karanganyar, which during Eid can reach 600,000 rupiah\nper person.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe free mudik programme is extremely helpful for my family. I have\nbeen participating since 2016 if I\u2019m not mistaken. At first,\nregistration was by queuing at the Central Java Liaison Office, and now\nI can register through the Jateng Ngopeni Nglakoni (JNN) application,\u201d\nsaid Lulik.<\/p>\n
The story of life as a migrant was also shared by Bejo Fauzan, a\nmeatball vendor in the Tanah Kusir area of Jakarta. Bejo said he had\nbeen working as a migrant and selling Solo meatballs since 1994.<\/p>\n
Initially, Bejo started selling as a street vendor using a carrying\npole. Then he used a bicycle, followed by a pushcart for selling, then\nopened a modest roadside restaurant, and eventually was able to rent a\nbuilding in the Tanah Kusir area.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve only been here for four years. Previously, the shop was\nattached in front there. This building used to be for a cheap eatery\nrestaurant. When the warung ceased operations, I moved in (to rent it).\nThe monthly rent is 3.5 million rupiah. Income can reach 6-7 million\nrupiah per month,\u201d said the resident from Jatiyoso, Karanganyar\nRegency.<\/p>\n
Despite having migrated for decades, it was only this year that Bejo\nand his family participated in the free mudik programme organised by the\nCentral Java provincial government. In previous years, he was not aware\nof the programme\u2019s existence.<\/p>\n
Every time he returned home, he had to dig deep into his pocket just\nto purchase a ticket costing 600,000 rupiah per person. \u201cI only found\nout this year from Mas Lulik. I then asked him to help register my\nfamily. I am so grateful for this free mudik programme. The money saved\ncan be used to buy milk for my child and provisions for Eid in my\nhometown,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/meatball-vendor-gives-gift-to-central-java-governor-in-appreciation-of-free-mudik-programme-1773654823", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }