Eid Fitri and Urbanization

Happy Eid Fitri for all Moslems in the world. May Ramadan renewed our faith so that we can start or life with a clean sheet.

End of Ramadan is a big cultural event for Indonesians. Many people, not just Moslems, go back to their hometowns or villages (we call it “mudik”). They go to meet parents or see their parents’ graves and send prayers, meet relatives and old friends etc. It is time to ask for forgiveness from the old and bring happiness to the young. It is time to strengthen the bond with the relatives and friends.

This year I mudik by train. In the last two years, I drove my little wagon R like car to Salatiga and last year was a big mess because the cooling fan was broken and engine got overheated and the travel took almost 23 hours (normally it takes only 10-12 hours normal driving). This year I took the train. This train was already packed with people although it was still 5 days before Eid Fitri (D-5).

This year’s mudik is a bit quiet. This year there was no long traffic jam. Less people travel with personal cars or motor cycle. Train was not really fully booked. The “sapu jagat” cart was not operated (Sapu jagat is in operation if only there are too many people to transport). One can still change the airline schedule one day before the flight (this could not happen if the airline was really fully booked). Commercial busses were empty because there are not so many passengers. In short, many decided to stay home and did not mudik. Why is it? Is Mudik already lost its meanings? I do not think so.

First reason. Higher fuel price created price hike in transportation (not just that, but also other things get pricy). Personal cars or motor cycles are still cheaper option of transport. However the cost is still much more than last year’s. People decided to stay home because they cannot afford to pay for the transport and cost of celebrating Eid Fitri in hometown. Some decided to go far before Ied Fitri (during Ramadan or even before) to avoid higher transport cost. During Ied Fitri time (D-7 and D+7) there is a special additional transport cost allowed by the government (10% max but in reality it can reach 75%).

Second reason. There are many private companies, government and political parties’ sponsored mudik events. Companies rented hundred of buses to transport mass of people to many destinations, especially in Java. Political parties also did it with fewer busses. Government offices usually only conducted smaller mudik event for their staffs. Companies and government offices usually do this activity regularly each year. Political parties, I guess, will only do it this year due to next year’s election. This thousand of sponsored buses have created pressure to commercial buses’ operation. Commercial buses lost many of their passengers this year.

I guess, political parties will only do this kind of activity this year only because of next year’s election. Parties want to attract votes from potential voters by sponsoring mudik. Next year when the election is over, I am sure, there will be no mudik event sponsored by political parties. Commercial buses should not be worry of losing their passengers next year and the years in the future.

Fewer people doing mudik means there will be less urbanization. Urbanization is always an issue after Ied Fitri. People from villages, that had showed their “success” life in the city, bring along their relatives to the city for “better life”. Many end up in poverty and become criminals living the in city slumps. However, the reality is far from theory. News informed that economy class train is packed with passengers that are going to cities, especially Jakarta. People are even sitting on the top of the cart. Something that is very dangerous.

Government in big cities usually is prepared for such massive urbanization after Eid Fitri holiday. Government of Jakarta for example, always do ID check in the arrival gate of major train stations. The officers will try to persuade people to go back to their hometowns and not making Jakarta more crowded.

Many things can be learned from urbanization phenomenon. First, big cities look nice and pretty. Big cities seem to be able to provide everything especially fortune. I believe, this only works for the strong ones (energy and skill). Second, big cities still monopolize the money circulation. Jakarta for example might control maybe 75% of money in Indonesia. It is not wrong that people try to come to Jakarta and seek for a piece of their fortune shares. Third, rural areas are not interesting anymore to stay. Agriculture, that is important pillar of a country’s economy, is not able to give good life for people. This has proved that there are development gaps between urban and rural. Government does not do enough work to support Agriculture sector, especially food producing agriculture. Government still have to do more on this. Indonesia should be self sufficient when talking about food. I remembered in 1980s, Suharto president of Indonesia at that time, gave speech in front of many people in FAO and tell them about the success story of Indonesia. In the 80s, Indonesia was self sufficient for food especially rice.

Being independent in the food sector is important. Becoming a farmer is not a choice anymore for young people in the rural areas. Urbanization is the proof. I am afraid government will let corporations to handle food sector in Indonesia. Farmers are always the lost parties in food business. If corporations monopolize food sector, then actually there is not food independence. There might be no transparency in the cost calculation so that food price becoming very high. If the government is smart enough (maybe Suharto is not bad at all in this case), farmers can be happy and Indonesia can be self-sufficient and food independent.

One more thing, climate change might also have some influence in the agriculture sector. Where are the scientist in IPB? Hello. Wake up guys! Give tangible inputs to the government and do not let corporations eat up Indonesia’s agriculture sector.