T

he Jakarta administration had evicted more than 8,145 families and 6,283 small businesses last year and the number is increasing as the first four months of this year has already seen three evictions. The city plans for more evictions by the end of 2016.

Many Jakartans fulfill their housing needs in informal or self-help based urban kampung (villages) spread among the capital’s high rise buildings, with many erected on state land. Dwellings in many of these areas have now been demolished and their owners evicted for various reasons ranging from flood mitigation, public order to tourism. Those who are “lucky” are relocated to rental low-cost apartments or rusunawa.

However, new problems arise when these families move to the rusunawa as most cannot maintain their income with the rent and bills they now have to pay.

One important aspect the city administration seems to forget is that residents who work in the informal sector like street vendors or small-scale industry build homes not only for living but also for producing.

Relocating, as what the city’s design template envisioned, meant for most losing their job, decreasing income or a forced switch in profession.

Mutia, a mother of two who now lives in a Jatinegara Barat low-cost apartment in East Jakarta after being relocated from nearby Kampung Pulo, said that she could not sell chicken nuggets anymore as she could not open a stall from her apartment.

Mutia said she was now making traditional pancakes to be put in her neighbor’s stall stationed on a sidewalk during nights.

“I used to get Rp 700,000 [US$53.20] per month by selling nuggets. I also sold ice cubes to beverage vendors. Now, I barely get Rp 200,000,” she said.

Amid complaints from evictees, the city administration has tried to compensate by holding training and providing facilities for the new tenants.

Marunda rusunawa in North Jakarta, for example, has hydroponic farm houses and intensive training on batik making to provide alternative income for the tenants.

The facilities include free Transjakarta tickets, school buses, an early education center and health clinics. Tenants at the rusunawa with time also get a new social network.

Firli Aris, 15, said after living in Marunda for two years, he had made more friends in line with new evictees arriving.

“Here, we have free daily futsal training organized by sport institution Meek Nusantara Foundation and a twice-weekly karate session for a monthly fee of Rp 30,000,” he said.

But an evictee from the red-light district Kalijodo in West Jakarta says he has a hard time finding a new job in Marunda. “The bed is more comfortable, but I don’t come to Jakarta to sleep in a comfortable bed. I come to make money,” Wahyu said.