From: Press Agency Ozgurluk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2001 19:30:52 +0200 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Ozgurluk] Turkey: Poverty Televised 2 June 2001, Copyright � Turkish Daily News Citizen Osman's miracle in living on TL 102 million becomes a new TV show Minimum wage inspires TV producers The millions of Turkish people trying to make ends meet on the minimum wage of TL 102 million has inspired television producers to create a new TV show. This one and only television show, entitled "Living with the Kemal Dervis model," will begin in June on Kanal D. The show takes its name from Economy Minister Kemal Dervis, who arrived in Turkey to find a cure for the crisis and is perceived as a hero or savior by the public. Two people will try to survive on TL 102 million each in separate houses. This miraculous effort of the contestants will be shown 24 hours a day on the Internet. The show will be a summary of the ordinary Turkish citizen, referred to as Citizen Osman. Since November, Turkish people have been frustrated by the sudden and deep economic crisis. Inflation has reached 24.6 percent within the last five months. The contestants will pay no rent. According to the rules of the new TV show, these two have to go to work, have their meals, buy a newspaper a day and a book a month and meet with friends on the weekend with their minimum wage budget. In addition to this, the contestants will have to pay their gas, electricity and water bills with this money. The program bans them from accepting financial aid or gifts. Contestants who fail to make ends meet with the TL 102 million in one month will be eliminated. There are millions of Turkish families who are trying to make a living on the minimum wage. At least TL 450 million per month is needed for an average four-member family to live above the poverty line. According to a previous survey, average weekly food expenses for a four-member family are approximately TL 50 to 60 million -- for a well-balanced diet. Monthly apartment rents in Ankara range from TL 100 to 700 million, according to location and size. According to information provided by the Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Turk-Is), 10 million people living in Turkey live below the poverty line. Monthly income for an average lower middle class family ranges from TL 200 million to TL 500 million. Around 48 percent of Turkey's population is in this class while their share of the national income is only 32.5 percent. Ankara - Turkish Daily News -- Press Agency Ozgurluk In Support of the Revolutionary Peoples Liberation Struggle in Turkey http://www.ozgurluk.org _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
