Crisis drives wedge between families

By Ainur R. Sophiaan

SURABAYA (JP): For many people, this year's Idul Fitri won't be the same as before. There will be neither new clothes nor abundant food. Worse still, they might not be able to afford a family reunion, a very long-standing tradition in the country.

"What's the use of going home if you don't have any money? It's a shame, and it's also difficult," Sunaryo, 37, a resident of Sambikerep subdistrict, Lakarsantri district, West Surabaya, said.

Sunaryo, born in a village in Madiun regency, East Java, has been living in the city of Surabaya for 15 years. He rents a house from a retired Armed Forces member for Rp 500,000 a year.

He sells vegetables from his bicycle for a living. Every day he plies about 25 kilometers on the roads in this industrial city. He starts work before dawn. At about 4 a.m., he leaves the house, riding his bicycle to the center of the city, and returns home at about 1 p.m. Instead of enjoying the rest of the day, Sunaryo spends the time pedaling a becak (three-wheel pedicab).

"If I only sell vegetables, I am not able to feed my family. My poor children... My wife and I can eat just rice, but it is impossible for my children, they need side dishes.. They also need education. Even though they go to state elementary school, there are fees for this and for that, and also lots of money for their books," he said. They have four children, two of them in elementary school.

His wife also runs a business at the house, selling cigarettes and snacks.

Still, they can't earn enough money for the whole family, and this has forced the parents to send their third child to their grandparents in the village.

Sunaryo has no intention of returning home, saying there is no job there. The only thing he could possibly do is working in the rice fields, but he won't do that. This year he has even dropped his plan to visit his parents during the Idul Fitri festivities.

Another unfortunate man is Mashuri, 40, a resident of Medokan Ayu subdistrict, Rungkut district, East Surabaya. He had worked as a supervisor for 10 years at PT Wahana Bangun Sarana, a construction company. But in the middle of last year he was laid off.

"Life in a big city is really hard, especially during this krismon (monetary crisis)," he complained.

Before he was laid off, he earned a Rp 250,000 monthly salary plus other benefits, depending on the work load, which altogether made him about Rp 500,000 on average. With that amount of money, he could barely feed his wife and three children - one is a junior high school student and the others go to an elementary school. His wife, Nurjanah, makes cakes and sells them at food stalls in the area.

Now he has no permanent job. He works when there is a tip from his acquaintances. "If there is a house whose roof leaks or if the wall needs a fresh coat of paint, I'm lucky," he said. He makes about Rp 300,000 a month, which is far from enough considering the high cost of living in the city. Once in a while, he and his friends go fishing so that his family can get something different to eat.

The man, who is from Blitar, East Java, lives in a house of 21 meters-square in a crowded district, but will have to move very soon. Last year he paid Rp 750,000. But the owner of the house has increased the annual rent to Rp 800,000, which should be paid after Idul Fitri. He must find another place to live as he is not able to afford it.

This misery is shared by the family of Suripan, 35, a resident of Gunung Anyar subdistrict, Gunung Anyar district, East Surabaya. In June last year this father of one was laid off from his company with two months salary in compensation. Since then he has been practically jobless. According to his wife, Suripan was stressed out and would not try to find another job. Worse, he has a new hobby, joining his friends in gambling on pigeon racing.

Almost every day the husband and wife fight.

"I can't stand it," the wife said. "Actually I want a divorce, but I take pity on my six-year-old child. Our savings have long finished while we still have debts to pay. I will be very happy if there is a free sembako (basic food stuffs) distribution, this can cheer up my husband. But that was three months ago. I don't know when the crisis will be over."