2,675 jobless get free meals

BOGOR (JP): Bogor mayoralty secretary R. Iswara Natanegara said yesterday 2,675 jobless people would get free meals for seven days until Sunday.

Iswara said that those receiving free meals were local destitute residents. The total value of the meals is Rp 28 million. "They can be people newly dismissed as a result of the current economic crisis or those with no work after long drought," he said.

"The money for the provision of the free meals is being provided by the Ministry of Social Services," he said.

He explained that the free meals were being distributed through 53 food stalls in six districts -- Bogor Utara, Bogor Barat, Tanah Sareal, Bogor Tengah, Bogor Selatan and Bogor Timur.

Besides being clean, the 53 stalls were chosen because they are located near the jobless people's homes, he said.

Mrs. Proyo, 56, the owner of a stall on Jl. Raya Tajur, said she had already received Rp 525,000 to serve 350 people. "I have received the money and I'll try to give the best service I can," she said.

The meals provided by Mrs. Proyo on Monday, the first day of the service, consisted of rice, meat, tempeh, vegetables and sambal (chili sauce). (24/hhr)