'I've heard about subsidies, but are they real?'

Life is becoming harder and harder, especially for the poor, due to the rises in fuel and utility charges, which may well trigger an increase in public transportation fares. The government says that it has provided a fuel-subsidy compensation fund to help the poor. What do the people say?

Ety, 24, is an employee in a firm in Pulogadung, East Jakarta. She resides in Cilincing, North Jakarta with her relatives:

Every day I have to use public transportation which costs me a total of around Rp 4,000 per day. This could soon rise to Rp 5,000.

So, how much will I have to spend on transportation alone in a month? So far, my monthly expenditure on transportation is more or less Rp 100,000.

I'll have to be more thrifty with my money as I only get the regional minimum wage, which is less than Rp 600,000 a month. I have to pay Rp 150,000 per month on rent, and my meals costs more or less Rp 10,000 per day.

Well, I'm really struggling with life in the city now. But I think it will be in vain to protest against the government. The government says that it has disbursed fuel hike compensation to the poor, but I haven't seen any of it.

Rohman, is a construction worker on a building site on Jl. Thamrin, Central Jakarta. He lives in Depok, West Java, with his wife and daughter:

I feel a major impact from the recent fuel and electricity hikes as I'm a commuter who always uses an electric train to get from Depok to my workplace. I have to pay Rp 45,000 now for a monthly ticket, Rp 13,000 more than before.

Perhaps, it's just a small amount to some, but for me it's a lot. I only earn Rp 30,000 a day. I have to spend some of this on my lunch, which costs less than Rp 5,000. The rest is for supporting my family.

I have no choice but to accept the impact, right. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to travel by public transportation, including the buses and trains.

I don't feel that the government has paid anything out of the fuel hike compensation fund to help the poor survive. I don't even know what or whom has been subsidized.

The government is just good for talking nonsense.

Tonny, is a freelance mechanic. He lives in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, with his family:

The increase in prices is a burden for us. Worse, my income has not increased.

I've found that some buses have raised their fares. A few days ago, I had an argument with the bus crew over the increase.

On the one hand, I understand the need to raise fares to cover the cost of fuel. And on the other hand, I'll have to be more economical in spending my money.

I realize that both passengers and the public transportation crews are always in a difficult situation. Well, like it or not, I'll have to accept the increases.

In my opinion, the government has mismanaged the economy of this country. It's not the proper time for the government to increase fuel and public utility charges at the same time this year.

I didn't even know that the government is paying out a compensation for the reduction in fuel subsidies. I don't know whether this is underway and is reaching the poor.

I just hope that the government still has a conscience regarding the misery of low-income people.

-- Leo Wahyudi S