Kedungkandang (malangkota.go.id) – The enthusiasm of the residents of Desaku Menanti village in Baran Hamlet, Tlogowaru Village, Kedungkandang District was seen when the Deputy Mayor of Malang, Drs. Sutiaji and a team from the Indonesian Accountants Association (IAI) Malang Raya Commissariat came to visit, Tuesday (24/1).
The Desaku Menanti program is one of the efforts of the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs to eradicate poverty in Indonesia. In Malang City itself, the realization of this program was carried out in March 2016 in the form of building 40 houses for former vagrants and beggars (gepeng).
"Permanent housing in Kampung Menanti has been built well, out of 40 houses, 35 houses are already occupied and the residents there have left their old jobs. Under the guidance of the Social Service (Malang City) they are currently actively pursuing various kinds of businesses," said Sutiaji, Tuesday (24/1).
Male residents are engaged in starting from making sawal pillows, selling cakes, selling meatballs, selling balloons, and others. For female residents, there are those who make processed foods including peyek, crackers, twisted cakes, getuk, wingko, and so on that can be done at home and have economic value.
"In addition to residents being able to have skills, what needs to be thought about is how they can live decently. Therefore, it is also necessary to think about how to market products that have been made by residents," said Sutiaji.
Sutiaji admitted that it is very important so that the residents of Kampung Desaku Menanti do not return to their old jobs on the streets. This is a step so that in the future the residents of Kampung Desa Menanti can be more independent and able to develop themselves to become successful entrepreneurs.
One of the residents of Kampung Desa Menanti, Bambang, admitted that the Malang City Government through the Malang City Social Service has actually helped the residents of Kampung Desa Menanti a lot. Even so, it is not easy to teach residents to become entrepreneurs. Because according to Bambang, it is very difficult to leave the comfortable habits of living on the streets.
"A small example in this place, the facilities to make various kinds of chips, getuk, crackers, peyek are complete, but it is not easy to invite residents. Because orders do not come every day, it feels difficult to get money," he said. (cah/yon)
