Rudi, Trash Picker

This is my first profile feature of people on the street in Indonesia. I am more interested in learning how the poor live and lead their lives. Occasionally, I may interview other types of people, you be the judge. It is presented in Indonesian and English.

Rudi, Pemulung (31 tahun)
Rudi, Trash Picker (31 years old)


1. Darimana asalnya? Desa Kutaraja, Kuningan (Jawa Barat)
1. Where are you from? Kutaraja Village, Kuningan (West Java).


2. Sudah berkeluarga? Belum. Ibu masih hidup di desa.
2. Do you have a family? No. My Mom is still alive in the village.


3. Sudah berapa lama tinggal di Jakarta? 2-3 tahun; lupa persisnya.
3. How long have you been living in Jakarta? 2-3 years; I forget exactly.


4. Bekerja apa dulu di Kutaraja? Jadi buruh tani di sawah.
4. What did you do in Kutaraja? I became a daily laborer at the rice field.


5. Kenapa pindah ke Jakarta? Pendapatan saya jadi buruh tani tidak menentu. Jika bagus, bisa 30-40 ribu per hari. Pertama di Jakarta, saya jualan gado-gado di Pasar Rebo dan dapat 150 ribu sebulan. Dapat makan dan penginapan gratis. Saya jadi pemulung sudah 2 tahun.
5. Why did you move to Jakarta? I cannot make a steady living working as a rice field laborer. On a good day, I can make $3-4 per day. In Jakarta, I first worked selling fruit salad in Pasar Rebo and made $15 per month. But I got free food and lodging while working as a fruit salad vendor. I have been a trash picker for the past 2 years.


6. Dijual dimana barang loakannya? Gak tentu. Kalau ada pengepul pakai gerobak, saya jual ke dia. Kalau tidak, dijual ke toko pengepul. Sehari bisa dapat 20-40 ribu per hari.
6. Where do you sell the trash you collect? It depends. If I see a mobile trash collector with a cart, I just sell my trash to him. Or I go to a collecting store. I can make $2-5 per day.


7. Tinggal di mana sekarang? Di Kramat Jati. Saya putar dari Kramat Jati, ke Pondok Gede, Kalimalang, Cawang, terus balik ke Kramat Jati, mengumpulkan sampah dari pagi sampai malam. (Rute jalan kaki melingkar ini sekitar 25 km.)
7. Where do you live now? In Kramat Jati. I circle from Kramat Jati, to Pondok Gede, Kalimalang, Cawang, and heading back to Kramat Jati, collecting trash from morning 'til late night. (The walking route he has is about 25 km.)


8. Ingin melakukan apa 1-2 tahun lagi? Ingin dagang, tapi saya tidak tahu berapa modal untuk jualan rokok.
8. What do you want to do in 1-2 years? Want to be a vendor, but I don't know how much money I need to have to be a cigarette street vendor.


9. Bisa nabung? Bisa pak, sekitar 15 ribu per hari dan uang tabungan saya titipkan ke penjual rokok dekat rumah.
9. Can you save? Yes, about $1.50 per day. I ask a cigarette street vendor I know to keep my saving.


10. Kenapa tidak mau saya potret? Malu. Saya bilang saudara saya di desa saya kerja jadi kuli.
10. Why don't you allow me to take your photo? I am ashamed. I told my relatives I worked as a construction laborer in Jakarta.