City to be free of 'becak' by April 1: Official
City to be free of 'becak' by April 1: Official
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration started netting any
becak (pedicabs) operating on any street in the capital beginning
last Tuesday in an attempt to become a becak-free city as of
April, an official said Thursday.
"We expect there will be no more becaks in the capital after
March 31," Deputy Governor for Administration Affairs Abdul Kahfi
told reporters at City Hall.
Kahfi, however, gave no details on the number of pedicabs that
already have been netted in the past three days
According to him, some of the netted pedicabs -- under the
approval of the owners or drivers -- have been converted into
vegetable carts funded by the authorities.
The drivers then are allowed to pedal their new carts to sell
vegetables in housing complexes.
According to City Bylaw number 11 issued in 1988, pedicabs are
banned in Jakarta.
Kahfi said the decision to hook three-wheeled pedicabs in the
capital until March 31 was made after the deadline on the city
administration's offer to purchase pedicabs expired on Monday.
Under the offer, which was imposed to show the authorities'
tolerance, all becak drivers or owners here were given the chance
to sell their pedicabs to the administration at Rp 250,000 (some
US$35) each.
The city administration also offered transportation allowances
worth Rp 50,000 for each pedicab driver who wished to return to
his hometown.
According to Muhayat, an officer at the City Hall's Public
Relation division, there are still over 6,000 pedicabs in the
city.
On Thursday last week, six pedicab drivers claiming to
represent some 130 fellow drivers lodged a civil lawsuit at the
Central Jakarta District Court against Governor Sutiyoso,
demanding the governor allow pedicabs to operate in limited
zones, such as housing complexes and markets, in the capital.
Court official U.Dj. Sidabalok, who met with the pedicab
drivers and their lawyers, said his office would open the hearing
soon.
On Wednesday, the city administration announced that it has
cooperated with at least four beverage firms to help solve the
matter by providing chances for the ex-pedicab drivers to sell
their drinks.
Head of the city's Manpower Agency, Sukesti Martono, said the
offer would end coincidental with the March 31 deadline.
He added that the offer was aimed initially at jobless people
in the capital since last December.
The four companies involved in the project are PT Coca-Cola
Amatil Indonesia, PT Sinar Sosro, PT Indo Meiji Ice Cream and PT
Aqua.
"The pedicab drivers could apply as (street and kiosk) traders
for the firms' products," Sukesti said.
Those who have joined in the scheme have enjoyed daily
earnings on average of some Rp 36,000 per person, he explained.
So far, Sukesti said, some 200 pedicab drivers have registered
to participate in the project.
Aside from the scheme, the city administration has also
offered to pedicab drivers and jobless alternative works, such as
vegetable vendors, mobile food and drinks traders.
On June 25 last year, Governor Sutiyoso announced that his
administration would allow pedicab drivers to operate in the city
in an attempt to help the poor people to survive during the time
of hardship.
The decision abruptly motivated some 7,000 people to begin
pedaling their becak in the streets of the capital, which then
forced the governor to reverse his decision.
He then instructed the city's five mayoralties to ban the
operation of pedicabs beginning on June 30 which sparked a series
of protests from the drivers and owners. (05/06)