In Sadness, They Share Happiness

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Workers load social assistance packages to truck to be distributed from PT Food Station Tjipinang Jaya Warehouse, Cipinang, East Jakarta, Thursday (23/4/2020). The government distributed social assistance packages of Rp600,000 each month for three months in an effort to prevent residents from mudik (eksodus) and increase purchasing power during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic is not just a story about melancholy, sadness and long worrisome days. As in a war, the battle against the SARS-CoV-2 virus is also characterized by heroic, patriotic and the willingness to make sacrifices.

Rudianto ,45, a resident of Sunter Indah in Sunter Jaya village, North Jakarta, is one of 10 residents receiving social assistance from the Jakarta provincial administration. As he felt he was not entitled to it, Rudianto gave the social assistance in the form of a package of basic needs that he received to other people he felt needed it more.

When receiving the social assistance from an official of the social affairs office, the entrepreneur was a little bit confused, because many poor people in his neighborhood were more in need of it than him.

Also read : Designing the Assistance Program for the Lower Middle Class

With his anxiety, he carried the aid package to one of crowded residential areas near his home. Many people saw him wandering with the food packages. When he saw an old man without clothes, he approached him. Rudianto then gave the package of staple food items to him.

The conversation between the two men attracted other residents to join in and share stories. "I just found out after chatting, many poor people have not received the social assistance and many of them were not registered," said Rudi.

Apparently the situation made Rudi feel uneasy. He hurried to the supermarket, bought sugar, salt, rice, tea, coffee, cooking oil, packaged milk powder, eggs and canned foods. Together with his wife, they packed all of the food into five packages.

Also read : The Power of Solidarity

KOMPAS/ERIKA KURNIA

A line of dozens of drivers, street vendors, workers at Depok Terminal to receive lunch assistance on Wednesday (15/4/2020). Assistance is provided by the social organization Aksi Cepat Tanggap (ACT) and the Indonesian Volunteer Society.

In RW 002 community unit in Gelora village, Tanah Abang district, an initiative to share also emerged among residents. The residents distributed 66 food packages, each containing 5 kilograms of rice, 2 liters of cooking oil, sweet soy sauce, five packs of instant noodles, and sugar.

According to the chairman of RW 002 community unit, Bahrudin, the donors did not want the residents to suffer from hunger and die.

The food assistance greatly helps the residents, as well as RT neighborhood and RW officials because not all the poor who are eligible to receive the social assistance from the Jakarta administration were registered.

Also read : Depok Residents Fight Against Outbreak

Bahrudin said, for example, RW community officials reported as many as 474 people were eligible to receive the aid. However, when the aid arrived, they were only for 231 households. "We were also criticized by citizens. We don\'t know why only 231 households received the aid, “he said. He then reregistered the residents that had not received the social assistance.

We distribute the assistance to our residents who have not yet received the aid from the government.

The difference in data for social assistance recipients also occurred in the RW 001 community unit in Sumur Batu village, Bantar Gebang, Bekasi City, West Java. Of the 500 proposed families, only 195 families have received. The RW officials were accused of favoritism.

Finally the RW officials invited the entrepreneurs who do business in the neighborhood to contribute. "We are not waiting. There are some helpful entrepreneurs. We distribute the assistance to our residents who have not yet received the aid from the government, " said the head of the RW 001 community unit in Sumur Batu Kiman subdistrict.

Assistance from entrepreneurs varies, ranging from instant noodles, rice, to cooking oil. So far, as many as 500 food packages have been distributed. Each package contains 3 kg of rice, 1 liter of cooking oil and 1 kg of sugar.

Also read : Jahitin: Sewing in the Fight Against Covid-19

Kompas/AGUS SUSANTO

Workers after pushing a trolley containing social assistance for residents affected by Covid-19 from the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government in the parking area of a shopping center in the Pancoran area, South Jakarta, Thursday (23/4/2020).

Within limitations

Solidarity also grew in the RT 032 neighborhood in Kelurahan Mustika Jaya, Bekasi city. There, residents work together to help the poor and those who have lost their jobs.

There are 14 residents who are willing to help. In the neighborhood, there are number of needy people including seven security guards in the complex, seven janitors, a scavenger, and 14 owners of micro businesses.

Residents, who are able to help the needy, agreed not to register the poor in the neighborhood with the Bekasi city administration, whose financial capacity is also limited. They agreed to take over and help the poor there.

Also read : Lessons from Quarantine at Kampung Hitu

"Out there, there are still many who need. So, let it be the responsibility of the government. At least we can help neighbors and friends who often meet each other, " said Mustofa ,50, a resident of the RW 032 community unit, who owns an event organizing company. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was forced to lay off 10 workers.

The first phase of the food assistance has been distributed. Each family got a package consisting of 10 kg of rice, 2 liters of cooking oil, 1 kg of sugar, and 10 packs of noodles. A total of 29 packages have been distributed.

"The food assistance is financed by funds from the mosque and donations from residents, " said Aris Budiyanto, the chairman of the RW 032.

ELITE SQUAD

Collection of rice donations by online motorcycle taxi drivers who are members of the Elite Squad community.

Solidarity is not due to material abundance. Mostofa’s company, for example, has been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic . Since mid-March, business has begun to decline. In April, his business was forced to close and he laid off 10 his employees.

Within that limitation, app-based motorcycle taxi drivers in the Elite Squad community also did their best. In the midst of a ban on carrying passengers, they can help others as much as possible.

"Under these conditions, I see that there are still many friends and brothers out there who are far more distressed," said Hermawan ,49, an app-based motorcycle taxi driver.

He encouraged fellow motorcycle taxi drivers in the Elite Squad community to help the needy through the "One Cup of Rice a Day" program.

We are targeting those who are very vulnerable, such as small shop owners, scavengers and those in the surrounding community that need help.

Hundreds of Elite Squad members in 46 base camps in Greater Jakarta donate one cup of rice per person per day. If there are members who are able only to donate one cup per month, that is OK.

When the rice was collected, the base camp coordinator asked fellow drivers to distribute rice to the people who needed it. "We are targeting those who are very vulnerable, such as small shop owners, scavengers and those in the surrounding community that need help," said Hermawan.

Since it started on April 6, until now, all Elite Squad base camps have collected 127 kg of rice. According to Hermawan, since its establishment, the community’s mission is to help each other. He himself is registered as a recipient of government social assistance and receives a 50 percent discount on his electricity bill.

The father of two has also been severely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the spirit of the community that supports each other has calmed him. Humans exist to share and support each other, including in times of sorrow.