Poor break rocks for a living<\/p>\n
Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang<\/p>\n
Sweating profusely from working in the scorching sun or being
\ncovered in dust is an everyday occurrence for Jhon Kase, a stone
\nquarrier in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
From sunrise to sunset, the 46-year-old resident of Penfui
\nsubdistrict, Maulafa district works hard with other villagers
\nbreaking limestone into blocks to support their families.<\/p>\n
\"I don't care what other people say. The most important thing
\nis that we can afford food for the day,\" said the father of four.<\/p>\n
\"We'll worry about tomorrow's needs later, as long as we don't
\nsteal or do anything illegal.\"<\/p>\n
Some of his earnings go toward supporting his family and the
\nrest pays for his children's education.<\/p>\n
They use simple tools, such as a crowbar and a 15-kilogram
\nsledgehammer in their work. Great strength is needed to split a
\none meter by two meter boulder<\/p>\n
\"We don't eat in the morning. We only bring a flask of coffee
\nand a bowl of boiled corn to eat for breakfast and lunch. We eat
\nrice with fish or vegetables only when we have the money,\" Jhon
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
They never dreamed they would become stone quarriers. Life was
\nhard in the barren hinterlands of Timor island, which is hot and
\ndry, and they were forced to move to the city to seek a living.<\/p>\n
Jhon's dreams of getting an education so that he could become
\na civil servant or an employee at a private company ended at the
\nrock quarry.<\/p>\n
\"My parents in the village are poor. I wanted to go to school
\nbut couldn't afford to. Eventually, I followed my relative Jhon
\nand became a stone quarrier.<\/p>\n
\"From my monthly earnings, I can set aside some money for my
\nfamily in Niki-Niki village, South Amanuban district in Central
\nSouth Timor,\" said Daniel Tasuib, 24, who stays in Naimata
\nsubdistrict, Kupang city.<\/p>\n
It takes them at least two days to fill a truck with limestone
\nblocks, worth Rp 50,000 (US$5). The blocks are hard and solid and
\nare used in building foundations.<\/p>\n
The stone quarriers have a disciplined routine. To them, time
\nis money, especially when working in vast open areas where there
\nis no protection from the sun.<\/p>\n
They spend their days working under the full blaze of the sun,
\nand have tanned bodies, sun-bleached hair and faces that are
\nsomewhat rough. However, they are respectful and friendly when
\nconversing.<\/p>\n
The local administration has done nothing to improve the
\nwelfare of quarriers in Kupang.<\/p>\n
\"We pay Rp 300,000 tax per month, but don't know what it is
\nused for. But if we poor people fall sick, we have to buy
\nmedicine from the community health center or hospital,\" said one
\nquarrier, Litus Parera, 38.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/poor-break-rocks-for-a-living-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}