In a warm meeting at BAPPEDA Bungo District, stakeholders gathered to discuss and evaluate the journey of the ESTUNGKARA programme for Suku Anak Dalam. From strategic discussions to meaningful field visits, the programme is not just a project, but a movement to empower indigenous communities. Pundi Sumatra in the ESTUNGKARA programme has made efforts to empower the community ...

Pundi Sumatra in the ESTUNGKARA program has made empowerment efforts for the Suku Anak Dalam Jambi community in two regencies in Jambi Province, namely Bungo Regency and Sarolangun Regency. Although it has entered its third year of empowerment, the location of Bungo Regency has actually received assistance from Pundi Sumatra for a long time so that the Suku Anak Dalam community in Dwi Karya Bakti Village, Pelepat District, Bungo Regency has experienced quite a lot of changes.

The community in the village is expected to be a pilot project for other assisted locations considering that the empowerment that has been carried out for almost ten years has begun to show changes, such as the development of various alternative economies, the formation of several business groups, and community independence in accessing basic services independently. Another significant change is the increasing attention and support from parties to this community which is translated into a willingness to collaborate in empowering SAD.

The ESTUNGKARA program supported by the Partnership Partnership also increases the opportunity for Pundi Sumatra to carry out a new initiative, namely the establishment of a special integrated health post facilitated by the University of Jambi and the local government. The Special Integrated Health Post is quite interesting for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) team and the INKLUSI secretariat team, who are currently conducting monitoring and evaluation (monev) of the program in the Pundi Sumatra assisted area.

The monitoring and evaluation visit took place on Thursday, July 18, 2024 at the Bappeda of Bungo Regency and Dwi Karya Bakti Village. That morning, the Head of Bappeda of Bungo Regency, H. Deddy Irawan, S.E., M.M., received the monitoring and evaluation team in his office. In the meeting, he expressed his hope that this empowerment program could continue. According to him, this program has had a positive impact in improving the welfare of the Suku Anak Dalam community, as well as supporting the improvement of regional performance indicators, especially in terms of the number of Suku Anak Dalam who have been successfully empowered.

After the audience, the implementation of monitoring and evaluation was continued with a meeting with stakeholders in the Anggrek Room of the Bungo Regency Bappeda. The meeting was led by Dr. Auri Adham Putro, S.Sos., M.Si (Head of the Economic Division of Bappeda) and attended by Iman Budisetiawan, S.Hut., M.A.P. (Secretary of Bappeda) Dr. Yunardi, S.KM., M.Kes (Associate Expert Planner of Bappeda), and Dr. Aminah, S.Sos., M.M. (Junior Expert Planner). The monitoring and evaluation were also attended directly by several Heads or Representatives of OPDs and stakeholders, including: Quswen Ikmal, S.Pi., M.M. (Head of the Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Service), Drs. Toto Tohirudin (Head of Population and Civil Registration Service), Mufazoh, S.Kep., Ners (Head of Public Health at the Health Service), Henywati, S.IP (Head of Tourism at the Youth, Sports and Tourism Service) and Dr. Syafrialdi, S.Pi., M.Si (Muara Bungo University).

In this meeting, several representatives of Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPD) expressed their opinion not to force the Suku Anak Dalam community to live a modern life and abandon their culture.

The opinions of some other participants are different, that by not accompanying and helping them adapt to the changes that occur around them; it is actually a form of 'neglect' and 'indifference'. Because the tribal community of children is currently also experiencing the onslaught of modernization that is ready or not ready to be present in their midst.

"We must maintain their culture so that it remains sustainable, therefore empowerment programs for them must ensure that the culture or local wisdom is not lost and is integrated with the empowerment program," said Auri Adham as Head of Economics of Bappeda Bungo.

He also emphasized the importance of continued cooperation with Pundi Sumatra, especially to make this program a regional innovation. The meeting participants also hoped that the empowerment activities of the Suku Anak Dalam Tribe could be continued and expanded.

In line with that, Quswen Ikmal as Head of the Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Service of Bungo Regency also said that the work program in the form of assistance for seeds and feed provided to the fish farming business group in the Suku Anak Dalam cannot be separated from Pundi Sumatra as a facilitator. Quswen explained that the animal husbandry and fisheries service will continue to budget assistance for fish seeds to this indigenous community.

"The fish seeds that they raise, when harvested, will be shared equally with the community, some will also be sold. The smoked fish is the result of their own fish harvest and of the many fisheries groups under the guidance of Disnakkan, the one that survives with cash ownership is SAD. That's why we have to help promote their business," he said.

He further told about the joint efforts to eliminate the stigma against smoked fish food products produced by the Mina Hasop Eluk business group. He also said that smoked fish is always included by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries in every bazaar and government event.

Special Posyandu activities in the SAD community housing hall. Photo: Pundi Sumatra Documentation

In addition to the alternative economic development efforts, the initiation of a Special Posyandu named Posyandu Aoh Bergesih which is a collaboration between Jambi University and the Health Office as an effort to reduce stunting rates and maternal and infant mortality rates in the Suku Anak Dalam community. Mufazoh as the Head of Public Health at the Health Office explained that socialization and awareness of reproductive health (kespro) are still being pursued by his team. The hope is that with the establishment of a Special Posyandu involving cadres as its implementers, it will be able to provide closer and more intense education within their community.

After the meeting, the team continued their activities with a field visit to the SAD settlement in Dwi Karya Bakti Village. They were warmly welcomed by the community accompanied by the Head of Pelepat Sub-district, Nasrun, S.Pd., Head of the Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Service, Head of the Dukcapil Service, and BAPPEDA of Bungo Regency who visited the business activity locations around the settlement, such as fish rearing ponds, smoked fish production houses, reading houses and witnessed the implementation of special posyandu activities by Village Cadres and SAD Cadres.

This monitoring and evaluation activity confirms the commitment of all parties to the continuation of the Suku Anak Dalam empowerment program. Support from various organizations and local governments shows a strong synergy to create positive changes in the Suku Anak Dalam community. Audiences and field visits are real evidence of joint efforts to ensure that this program not only runs, but also develops into a sustainable empowerment model.

Read more: Gedsi Capacity Building for Key Stakeholders in Sarolangun and Bungo Districts