Governor Surjadi inaugurates six cooperative shops

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja inaugurated yesterday six cooperative shops that cater for the needs of the poor.

The administration hopes that the Warung serba ada (all encompassing shop) project, which began three years ago, will continue to grow and shops will someday spring up in subdistricts throughout the city.

The launching ceremony was held at a cooperative shop in the Kali Baru subdistrict, North Jakarta.

The other five shops are located in Rawasari, Central Jakarta; Tomang, West Jakarta; Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta; and Kali Besar, North Jakarta.

"The shops should improve the standard of living of the poor people," Surjadi said. "They can buy a range of stuff, especially the 'nine basic needs', cheaper here than anywhere else."

The shops received Rp 8 million each as initial capital from the administration.

Jakarta Assistant of Economic and Development Affairs Prawoto Danumiharjo said the project had enjoyed success since it began three years ago. And the administration allocated Rp 220 million for the project in the 1996/1997 fiscal year.

Surjadi said he had waited for three years to inaugurate the cooperative shops because he wanted to be certain the program really worked.

He called on shop managers to continue encouraging more people to not only buy their groceries at the shops but also join the cooperatives.

He praised the Kali Baru owners for their decision to start the cooperative and the shop.

Their shop was a model for others to be built in other parts of the city, he said.

He recalled that some government officials were skeptical about the programs viability when it began.

"They didn't believe that you guys could really lift yourselves out of poverty," he said. "I'm really very proud of you."

The governor also pledged continuing support from the administration.

"As long as you do your best to run the cooperative, remain honest and work hard, the administration will support you all the way," he said.

The Kali Baru cooperative shop manager, Muchammad Muchtar, told The Jakarta Post that the endeavor was a collective effort. And the shop's 470 square meter plot was purchased by the local people.

"We all chipped in, bit by bit, until we had enough to buy the property," he said.

"I never thought that this warung would become a model for the other shops in Jakarta."

Muchammad recalled the hard time he had convincing people to join the cooperative in the beginning. But once they saw the benefit they started to join, he said.

The cooperative members now number 450, a huge increase from the initial 30 three years ago.

"Now, our daily profit reaches Rp 400,000 to Rp 500,000," he said. (07)