Revival of Sunday market south

Revival of Sunday market south

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said the informal sector should be nurtured to narrow the social gap exacerbated by the influx of poorly educated villagers into the rapidly developing capital.

"Because they are poorly educated people, most of them end up becoming street vendors or scavengers," Surjadi said on Monday, shortly after opening a food bazaar.

"One way to develop the informal sector is to revive the establishment of Sunday Markets," Antara quoted Surjadi as saying.

The governor said Sunday Markets can be set up anywhere in the city, including in open fields, provided the activities do not disturb the public order.

Surjadi mentioned Jl. Teuku Umar in central Jakarta as an ideal place for a Sunday Market.

He said the prices of goods offered in the market should be within the reach of the buying power of people living near the market site.

Abdul Gani A. Abdullah, chairman of Commission B of the City Council, which oversees economic affairs, concurred with Suryadi, saying that the development of the informal sector should be carried out regularly.

"Goods offered by street vendors are easily sold out because they usually sell them at strategic sites," Abdullah said.

He added that this could be a problem if the vendors assumed they could trade just anywhere they liked.

"They must obey all city regulations. But if the authorities relocate them, the new places should not be isolated from public view," Abdullah said.

The latest city administration data lists 105,000 street vendors and 9,000 scavengers in Jakarta. (bas)