UGM alumni sells subsidized meals

YOGYAKARTA: The Gadjah Mada University (UGM) alumni association is selling low-cost lunches to the public at a price of just Rp 400.

Not surprisingly, the association's secretariat on Jl. Pancasila, Bulaksumur, is always crowded at noon with a long line of people waiting to purchase the meals.

Those waiting in line come from a variety of backgrounds -- from students to becak (rickshaw) drivers.

At the moment, however, the association can only afford to provide 200 meals a day.

Mrs. Utari Koentowibisono, the project's organizer, said the association subsidized the meals at a cost of Rp 350 each.

"So each day we have to cover a financial loss of about Rp 70,000," she explained. The subsidy comes from funds donated by association members.

She said the association had enough money to subsidize the low-cost lunches for another two months, indicating they had Rp 4.05 million in donations still available for the project. (44)