Baznas RI Distributes 400 Iftar Food Packages to Waste Pickers in Tebet
Jakarta - The National Zakat Agency (Baznas) of Indonesia distributed assistance comprising 400 portions of ready-to-eat meals and iftar items to economically disadvantaged residents of Kampung Pemulung (Gasong), Tebet, Jakarta.
Saidah Sakwan, Head of Baznas RI’s Distribution and Empowerment Division, stated that the activity forms part of the Blessed Ramadhan Meal Programme to ensure that basic needs of vulnerable populations are met throughout Ramadhan.
“Zakat contributions from donors are allocated by Baznas for the welfare of the community, including the Blessed Ramadhan Meal Programme for economically disadvantaged populations. We are distributing assistance in Kampung Gasong, Tebet, to ensure residents can enjoy proper iftar meals,” she said in a statement in Jakarta on Friday.
Saidah noted that the programme constitutes a routine annual agenda of Baznas implemented across various regions of Indonesia.
She assessed that Kampung Gasong was selected because the social and economic vulnerability of its residents is notably high. “We continue to provide assistance in urban areas because, as we understand, inequality is significant. Kampung Gasong is one of the priority locations because residents’ social and economic conditions require serious attention,” she stated.
According to Saidah, many families in the area live with limited access to clean water, sanitation facilities, and adequate housing. These conditions, she continued, require collective attention from various stakeholders.
One resident, originally from Pekalongan in Central Java, has lived in Kampung Gasong with his wife and child for over 30 years following displacement due to evictions. He works daily as a waste picker, earning approximately IDR 50,000 per day to meet his family’s needs whilst supporting his child’s university fees.
“Praise be to God, we are being cared for by Baznas and the donors. We express our sincere gratitude, and hope they will continue visiting and paying attention to our siblings here in Gasong,” he said.