By now, we should all know of (and be enormously grateful to) Jakarta’s “Pasukan Oranye” (Orange Troops), the day laborers from the city’s Sanitation Agency who have recently accomplished the seemingly impossible task of cleaning up the capital’s rivers.
The city’s is about to get more colorful with the introduction of “Pasukan Ungu” (Purple Troops), which is a group of doctors, nurses, health and social agency workers, and volunteers from the Indonesia Alzheimer Foundation (ALZI). Their job: to help care for the derelict and senile citizens of the city.
Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama inaugurated the Purple Troopers last night and posted their photo on his official Facebook page today.
There weren’t any specifics as to how the Purple Troopers will help care for those in need, but they said they would be on stand by and spread around several areas throughout the city to give assistance whenever and wherever possible.
According to Merdeka, there are currently 200 registered and trained Purple Troopers, and their numbers may rise in the future. Each trooper is reportedly paid a monthly salary of Rp 3.1 million, which is in accordance with the Jakarta minimum wage.
So first there were the Orange Troops, and now we welcome the Purple Troops. Let’s not forget about the Blue Troops, who are responsible for flood management in the city. We look forward to there being troops of various colors, all working hard to make Jakarta a better place.
