Development brings no benefit for locals

Ateng, 45, is one of the local residents of Kelapa Gading who has become a minority in the fastest growing district in North Jakarta, where the majority of people living here are wealthy newcomers who occupy luxury homes.

Ateng, his wife and their three children live in a very simple, old house built by his parents in the 1950s. The house's rundown condition is in vast contrast to the new stylish buildings located only a hundred meters away.

"I never tell anyone I live in Kelapa Gading anymore as people would think that I own a luxury home. I prefer to say I live in Sunter," Ateng told The Jakarta Post at his house recently.

Ateng's house and several hundred other semipermanent dwellings are located along the Sunter riverbank in the subdistrict of Kelapa Gading Barat. These houses form a row that is the first to be hit by floods when the Sunter river overflows during the rainy season.

Just like his house, which never improves, Ateng's job also does not change. He is among the residents who do not have an opportunity to enjoy the fast-growing development going on in the subdistrict, which has transformed the swampy, rice paddies into large, modern shopping centers.

To feed the five members of his family, Ateng sells thin colorful rubber balls, which he makes himself. His wife and children also help making them.

During the day, Ateng travels throughout the city selling the toys, carrying some 60 rubber balls at a time which he sells for Rp 1,000 each. At night, he makes more balls. In a day, he can sell up to 30 balls.

"There is only enough money for our daily basic needs and for paying the school fees for our children," said Ateng when he was asked why he did not renovate his house.

Two of his children go to an elementary school while another goes to a junior high school.

Slamet, 42, is another Kelapa Gading Barat resident who was born and raised here. He also complained that local residents could not reap any benefit from the recent development of the areas.

Kelapa Gading Barat is one of three subdistricts in the Kelapa Gading district. The other two districts are Kelapa Gading Timur and Pegangsaan Dua.

Slamet was one of hundreds of residents evicted from their homes late last year so that the area could be developed to build another trade center.

Residents tried to defend their homes when bulldozers were brought in, but they were forced to give up as they did not have title deeds for the houses, which were located in swampy areas.

Slamet was fortunate though, as he was able to rent a house in the area from the head of the neighborhood after the evictions. Many other families were forced to build shanties along the road close to Sunter river.

Slamet also complained that businessmen did not give equal employment opportunities to local residents to work in offices or shops, which were mushrooming in the vicinity.

"Perhaps it is because locals have little education and limited experience, but why don't businessmen employ the youth here as security officers, for example. It would be helpful," said Slamet, a junior high school graduate who works in a printing company outside the district.

Slamet said the construction of buildings had worsened the flood problem as the swampy areas near their houses had been filled in.

"You can look for yourselves, the water still comes into the houses and covers some of the floor here," he said, adding that during this year's rainy season, floodwater had reached almost 50 centimeters.

-- Bambang Nurbianto