Staple Food Canthelan to Strengthen and Bind

The Covid-19 outbreak has dealt a blow to the economy of all segments in society. Amid this ordeal, residents facing the same difficulty are just helping and strengthening one another.

KOMPAS/NINO CITRA ANUGRAHANTO

Ardiati, a resident of Rajek Lor Hamlet, put food packages in front of her house, in Rajek Lor Hamlet, Tirtoadi Village, Mlati District, Sleman Regency, DI Yogyakarta, Friday (1/5/2020). The action of canthelan staples began in early April.

A blue wooden shelf was full of packets of various staple foods in Rejodani Hamlet, Sariharjo village, Ngaglik district, Sleman regency, Yogyakarta, on Saturday (16/5/2020). The hung packets contained rice, eggs, cooking oil and vegetables. Some packets were filled with rice noodles and instant noodles.

The action to help residents impacted by Covid-19 was initiated by a group of housewives in the hamlet. “When it was proposed, our friends were promptly responsive. Even before the shelf was prepared, some of them had left their aid packages. As soon as it was ready, the shelf was full,” said Setyawati Aris Margono, 49, coordinator of Aksi Berbagi (Sharing Action) in Rejodani.

At first, the hamlet women were only selling food and basic necessities through a WhatsApp social media group called Bela Beli Rejodani. What was sold by some neighbors was bought by others. Over the last week, the canthelan or food package sharing action has followed. With only one cantelan (hook shelf) in the beginning, there are now four shelves.

Many people have been laid off. There are also farm workers and the paddy fields where they work have harvest failures. I feel concerned.

“The arrangement of hung packages has now changed from its original array an hour ago. It means that after some of them were taken, other people hung some more moments later,” said Setyawati.

The food aid was originally meant for residents of Rejodani. Later, residents from neighboring villages have occasionally collected the packages.

In another place, Ardiati Bima, 53, a resident of Rajek Lor hamlet, Tirtoadi village, Mlati district, Sleman regency, launched the staple food canthelan action since early April.

“Many people have been laid off. There are also farm workers and the paddy fields where they work have harvest failures. I feel concerned,” said the agriculture graduate of Gadjah Mada University.

Read also: In Sadness, They Share Happiness

KOMPAS/NINO CITRA ANUGRAHANTO

Ardiati (left), a resident of Rajek Lor Hamlet, assisted by her neighbor to pack food that will be hung at her home, in Rajek Lor Hamlet, Tirtoadi Village, Mlati District, Sleman Regency, DI Yogyakarta, Friday (1/5/2020). The action of canthelan staples began in early April.

Ardiati started the action by purchasing staple foods with part of her monthly housekeeping money. At first, she only provided 5-7 packets daily. One packet usually contains rice, cooking oil, eggs and vegetables from her own garden.

The action drew public attention and a lot more aid was flowing in. One of those donating their aid has even been laid off from work as a result of Covid-19. She is Dwi Ari Ningsih, 41.

“Here’s my share, 5 kilograms of rice. I feel relieved if I can lessen the burden of fellow residents. I still have farmland, which is better than nothing. What about those who have no savings at all?” said Dwi.

Also read : People Redistribute Social Aid to Others More in Need

The Central Board of the Alumni Community of Gadjah Mada University (PP Kagama) duplicated Ardiati’s way of sharing and Kagama Canthelan was born.

Sulastama Raharjo, Deputy Secretary General for Social Devotion of PP Kagama, said Kagama Canthelan had been spread over 35 locations in 10 provinces.

“The provinces are North Sumatra, Riau, Jakarta, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan through West Kalimantan. We will also try to cover other regions,” said Sulastama.

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

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

A member of the Cirebon City PKK driving team prepares food in a public kitchen on Jalan Siliwangi, Cirebon City, West Java, Monday (11/5/2020). They made around 300 food packages for poor people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Public kitchens operate Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Dapur cinta sesame

The same spirit also prevails in West Java. The aroma of egg rendang (cooked in coconut milk with spices) pervaded the back yard of the Family Welfare Association (PKK) Office of Cirebon city, West Java, on Monday (11/5). The PKK office now serves as a communal kitchen of Jabar Bergerak, a provincial movement of collaboration between the government, the private sector and the public to assist residents impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Preparations began on the previous day. They were cooking 50 kilograms of rice, shelling 450 eggs as well as mixing vegetables and noodles. The tent of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency protects them from heat and rain.

Jabar Bergerak General Chairperson Atalia Praratya hoped the communal kitchen could relieve the burden of residents facing food scarcity amid the pandemic. They are non-native residents, poor residents, scavengers and others still beyond the reach of government aid. “We receive complaints about 42,000 residents in need (of consumption) but are not included in the social welfare integrated data,” she said.

Also read : Depok Residents Fight Against Outbreak

In Bandung city, the same movement is named Sangu Bancakan Urang Bandung (Sabandung). Initiated by Bandung city’s PKK in each subdistrict, this movement was launched on Friday (8/5) by distributing 30,200 packets of food boxes on a weekly basis.

There is also tengok tetangga (care for neighbors) in Tamansari subdistrict, Bandung city. Tamansari Community Unit (RW) 012 Chief Harun Kasirun said after being planned by residents on 22 April, staple food aid packets for residents were distributed two days later.

KOMPAS/MACHRADIN WAHYUDI RITONGA (RTG) 12-05-2020

A volunteer Dapur Musafir prepares a parcel of food before it is distributed in Bandung, West Java, Tuesday (12/5/2020). The Musafir Kitchen consists of several artists who join to distribute food to fellow artists or other residents in need.

In Cirebon city, RW 008 residents of South Simaja, Drajat subdistrict, Kesambi district, also contributed aid. “We call it food granary because it can last for several weeks,” said RW 008 Chief Bobby Sandy Gautama. The program emerged after it was found out that around 80 households in the area received no government aid.

After its announcement to residents, an aid fund totaling Rp30 million was collected within a week. “This is the biggest aid while in fact there’s a crisis at present. Business people as well as the poor are in trouble,” said Bobby.

Staple food canthelan or food aid or food packets constituted part of social solidarity at the most basic level.

Bobby and local residents have distributed the aid for the first time. They are determined to continue their action for six weeks during the imposition of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB).

Separately, Gadjah Mada University sociologist Arie Sujito stated that the phenomenon of staple food canthelan or food aid or food packets constituted part of social solidarity at the most basic level. The movement serves as a reaction to the crisis currently prevailing. Social control takes place due to the public awareness of not over benefiting from the voluntary aid. This is something good that becomes the country’s major capital to fight the outbreak.