Crisis drives wedge between families

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."