Rice Aid Distributed through "ATMs"

Kompas/Dedi Muhtadi

Rumah Ganda (left), 65, the chief of neighborhood unit 008, community unit 003 in Cimahi hamlet of Wanakerta village, Bungursari district, Purwakarta regency, West Java, poses with a rice dispenser at his house in June. The dispenser distributes free rice to the poor, especially the elderly and orphans.

In Purwakarta, West Java, “ATMs” not only dispense money, but also rice. However, this facility is only available to local residents eligible to receive community rice aid for poor families, known as beras sejahtera (rastra).

Ganda, 65, the chief of neighborhood unit 008, community unit 003 (RT 008/RW 003) of Cimahi hamlet in Wanakerta village, Bungursari district, Purwakarta, had an automated rice dispenser installed at his house in early June. The village, located not far from the Purwakarta industrial estate, was chosen as an installation site, as its community still practices the perelek custom of collecting rice for distributing to the poor.