Garnita NasDem Holds Ramadan Cheap Market, Targeting PAUD Teachers and Female Ride-Hailing Drivers
The women’s wing of the NasDem Party, Garda Wanita Malahayati NasDem (Garnita), held a Ramadan cheap market activity in the East Kanal Banjir Kanal Timur (BKT) area of Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, on Saturday 14 March in the afternoon.
The programme aimed to help residents obtain basic necessities at more affordable prices amid rising demand during the Ramadan month.
Tantri Moerdopo, Secretary General of Garnita Malahayati NasDem, explained that the cheap market activity is a routine agenda held every Ramadan by the organisation at various points across Indonesia.
“This is our routine agenda every Ramadan. This year we are holding cheap markets at several points in Greater Jakarta and surrounding areas,” said Tantri when met at the activity location on Saturday 14 March.
She stated that the Duren Sawit activity marked the final location of this year’s cheap market implementation. At each location, Garnita prepared approximately 200 to 250 staple packages that residents could purchase at prices significantly lower than market rates.
“Each location has around 250 packages, and this is the final location in East Jakarta,” said Tantri.
The programme targeted specific community groups considered to have received limited attention, including PAUD (early childhood education) teachers, Qur’anic teachers, ride-hailing drivers, Prasarana dan Sarana Umum (PPSU) sanitation workers, veterans, Garnita cadres, and general residents in the surrounding area.
Tantri emphasised that package recipients were not selected randomly. The organisation collaborated with the sub-district office to obtain data on residents deemed to require assistance.
“We seek data at each of our activities, identifying who has not yet received attention. For instance, today we requested data from the Duren Sawit Sub-district Office, and it turned out there were several groups that had been overlooked, such as PAUD teachers and other educators. We endeavoured to include them in the cheap market beneficiary list,” she said.
According to her, the majority of beneficiaries in the activity were women. This aligns with the organisation’s focus as the women’s wing of the party.
“As can be seen, indeed the majority are women, because we are the women’s wing of the party. So in every activity we want to prioritise women,” said Tantri.
She added that women often serve as the primary economic support for their families, so assistance to them is expected to have a direct impact on household welfare.
“We hope that women as the pillars supporting their families can take home a small gesture of attention from us, so that their families can experience happiness in the Ramadan month,” she said.
Additionally, the staple packages in the cheap market activity could be redeemed by residents at prices far lower than normal—Rp5,000 per package compared to market prices.
“We provide staple packages in specific quantities, which residents can redeem at very low prices so they can still enjoy basic necessities at affordable rates,” said Tantri.
Meanwhile, Santi Nur Rifiandini, Sub-district Head of Duren Sawit, welcomed the activity and expressed appreciation to Garnita NasDem for involving residents in her area.
“Alhamdulillah, representing the Duren Sawit Sub-district Government, I express gratitude to Garda Wanita NasDem for holding this activity this afternoon,” said Santi.
She stated that the sub-district office helped bring together several PAUD teachers from 13 institutions in the Duren Sawit area to participate in the activity. Additionally, PPSU personnel were also involved as beneficiaries.
“Currently we have brought PAUD teachers from 13 PAUD institutions in the Duren Sawit Sub-district area, as well as the Orange Uniform personnel who are Jakarta’s heroes for helping to clean and beautify this city,” said Santi.