Subsidized rice gives hope to poor Jakartans<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Fifty nine-year-old Lasiem speaks enthusiastically of the relief
\nshe feels at being able to keep food on the table.<\/p>\n
"Alhamdullilah (Praise be to God), since I joined this program
\ntwo years ago, my family and I have never lacked food," says
\nLasiem, who lives with her married 22-year-old daughter, son-in-
\nlaw and two grandchildren.<\/p>\n
Living in a 5 meter by 4 meter house in Community Unit 4 in
\nSouth Rawabadak subdistrict, North Jakarta, Lasiem is entitled to
\nbuy 20 kilograms of rice at Rp 1,000 per kilogram, compared to
\nthe market price of Rp 2,800 per kilogram sold by State Logistics
\nAgency (Bulog).<\/p>\n
One hundred and forty-two other poor families in Rawabadak
\nbenefit from the government's low-income assistance fund, which
\nalso includes free health care and education for the poor.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta alone, 277,174 poor families benefit from the
\nprogram.<\/p>\n
"The raskin (rice for the poor) helps me lighten the burden of
\nmy daughter's family. It's hard enough for them to survive and
\ntake care of the children on my son-in-law's uncertain income,"
\nsaid Lasiem.<\/p>\n
Her son-in-law works as a janitor at an automotive workshop in
\nCiputat, South Jakarta, and comes home once a month after he
\nreceives his salary, which barely covers the family's daily
\nneeds.<\/p>\n
To make ends meet while her son-in-law is away working,
\nLasiem, who previously worked as a waitress at a military
\ncanteen, often borrows money from neighbors or works at a
\nfriend's food stall.<\/p>\n
"I repay the loans when my son-in-law comes home with his pay.
\nI also use some of his money to buy the cheap rice," said Lasiem,
\nwho was widowed 16 years ago.<\/p>\n
With a trembling yet calm voice, Lasiem, born in Cilacap,
\nCentral Java, said it was upsetting when supplies of subsidized
\nrice did not arrive on the 25th or 26th of the month as
\nscheduled.<\/p>\n
"I get so worried when it comes one or two weeks late, and all
\nI can do is grumble to myself. I can't afford to buy rice at the
\nmarket, which usually costs more than Rp 3,000 per liter," said
\nLasiem.<\/p>\n
"I can buy rice at the fixed price, without any trouble
\nbecause I have a raskin card ... unlike my daughter," she said.<\/p>\n
Wati, Lasiem's only daughter, said that she can buy cheap rice
\ntoo, but has to pay Rp 27,000 more per 20-kilogram sack.<\/p>\n
"I have to pay Rp 27,000 for a sack of rice. But most of the
\ntime I have to push and shove against other people who don't have
\nraskin cards either, just so we can get some cheap rice," Wati
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Wati said that 20 kilograms of rice per month was not enough
\nto feed five mouths. To cover the shortfall, once every two
\nmonths, Wati and her mother buy two extra sacks of subsidized
\nrice at a higher price.<\/p>\n
"With my mother being a member of the raskin program, my
\nfamily can afford quality rice that is cheap. The rice has been
\nbetter this past year. Previously, we could hardly swallow the
\nrice they supplied," said Wati.<\/p>\n
Wati is glad her mother also has a welfare card (Gakin), which
\nentitles her to free health care.<\/p>\n
"Because I don't have a Gakin card, I often use my mother's
\nfor medical treatment. As for my two children, I pay Rp 3,000 per
\nchild every time I take them to the subdistrict community
\nclinic," said Wati. (001)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/subsidized-rice-gives-hope-to-poor-jakartans-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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