"Jejak Kecil di Jalan Takdir" - Reflection of the Current State of the Society

"Pendidikan + Kemiskinan = Bestie negara maju?"

Hello everyone, I am Danish from SMA Pradita Dirgantara and this is my first article for the Civic Education assignment. I would like to discuss a phenomenon that is rampant in Indonesia, namely poverty. Poverty in Indonesia is a serious and significant issue, as an estimated two million individuals dwell in the depths of poverty. The reasons behind their situation of poverty may be very diverse and could be entirely different based on their own unique set of circumstances and situations in life. This can include the small amounts of money they get in their line of work, which might not be enough to cater to their requirements. Others are also experiencing the serious problem of losing their jobs, which forces them to look for other ways of surviving in a poor job market. Finally, the death of a parent, particularly during times of crisis, can lead to severe emotional pain, which can bring many financial problems that only serve to aggravate their already miserable condition. In this article, I will discuss poverty and education from the perspective of a student.

The majority of people who are in these situations are living in a reality where they are provided with inadequate access to essentials that are crucial for them to maintain their day-to-day existence. One of the most significant of these is education, and it plays a huge role in how they survive in their harsh life. This limited access to education facilities causes them to depend primarily on survival information that they gain from experiences and interactions in their daily lives. Also, besides the challenge posed by limited education, the low level of access to medical care also joins in to cause the challenge, thereby rendering it very difficult for these individuals to ensure and maintain their survival effectively. All of these tribulations were invested in a short movie called 'Jejak Kecil di Jalan Takdir'. The movie not only illustrates the poverty of Hasan and the difficult life of his family, but also the environment where they live. The movie also illustrates the ethical conflict encountered by Hasan when trying to make a living, and also refers to the nation's interest in the issue of poverty that still pervades.

This movie presents a vivid and unflattering picture of Hasan's offbeat life, which is a stark contrast to that of other children of the same age as him. As a rag-and-bone man by profession, Hasan is confronted with the bitter fact that he has no choice but to watch his friends happily leaving for school in pursuit of their junior high school education. Although he works hard to fend for himself and his family, he comes across a wallet on the ground. This unexpected meeting presents him with a serious moral crisis, causing him to struggle with the challenging decision of doing something evil or taking the way of righteousness. The occurrence of moral dilemmas reveals the common dilemmas that constitute human existence, in which persons are destined to face choices that forcefully confront held beliefs. Various elements may contribute to a person's choice in the face of a moral dilemma, including the existential context within society. The overwhelming tension of his situation may compel him to carry out an action that neither the majority holds as right or wrong.

Hasan, working as a scavenger. Source: youtube.com

Hasan's work as a scavenger was not a job he wished to have. He was compelled to work as a scavenger because he could not continue his studies due to the fact that he had no money to spend at school. Sadly, his brother, who is the only family member he depends on and the lone working individual in their whole family, got sick. This unfortunate event compelled Hasan to step into his brother's shoes in the workplace. The choice that he was compelled to make ended up interfering with his true aspiration to attain an education by going to school. Added to this is that Hasan possesses a great talent for drawing, a gift which certainly can, and undoubtedly will, intrigue and capture the interest of a great number of individuals, including that of the school community. This point is well brought out by the sad reality that economically underprivileged persons receive minimal or no attention and care from society. This is coupled with the reality that the rural environment of Hasan also works to help further underscore the necessity that the state needs to become increasingly responsive and sensitive to the ongoing rural crisis that besets so many. Children like Hasan should have access to education as stated in UU No. 35 Tahun 2014 Pasal 53 Ayat (1), which states that the Government and Regional Governments are responsible for providing education costs and/or free assistance or special services for children from underprivileged families, neglected children, and children who live in remote areas.

Hasan, walking past the school that he longed for.  Source: youtube.com

Throughout the bustling city and rural areas, we see numerous individuals working to make small amounts of money, which places them in a vulnerable situation where they themselves do not make enough money to fulfill their needs. And besides that, one can also find little children, destitute and helpless, begging on urban streets, pleading for money so that they may at least have something to eat. But the question remains: what do we do with such heart-wrenching scenes? Do we assist with our charitable hands? Do we do anything that has some meaning and makes some impact on their lives? Sadly, there are times when we simply gaze at them, choosing to turn a blind eye to their plight and not give them the type of attention and sympathy that they so badly need. 

In conclusion, it must be noted that poverty creates many difficult problems and struggles for the individuals who are submerged in it. One of them is moral dilemmas, which are very rigorous tests. They not only impact the lives of people who are living in poverty, but they also carry ethical concerns that we all have to face at one point in our lives. Aside from these moral challenges, the educational and health aspects also impose significant hardships on those individuals who must labor to emancipate themselves from poverty's grip. The author, therefore, wants to make an appeal to others to open our hands for the poor ones, so they can become free to be settled citizens. Let us show our humanity to the poor.