Banten's Tanjungjaya village prepares self-reliance

Banten's Tanjungjaya village prepares self-reliance

By I. Christianto

The Jakarta Post, in cooperation with Banten West Java Tourism
Development Corporation, is presenting weekly issues on the
Banten region. This week's issue is on community development.

TANJUNGJAYA VILLAGE, Pandeglang, West Java (JP): The group of
junior high school students were looking cheerful in their school
uniforms and shoes, returning home to Cikadu Kampong from school
on Saturday having just completed their midterm exams.

But only one year ago, these same teenagers spent most of
their time at home or in the fields, doing things not normally
associated with other children of the same age who are lucky
enough to be getting an education.

Tanjungjaya is located on a tip of land in Banten bordering
the Sunda Strait. It takes about four hours by car from the
country's capital of Jakarta to get there.

Though it is not really far in terms of distance, there is no
use in comparing the educational opportunities between the two
places. Poor supporting infrastructure and inadequate human
resources have continuously hampered the process of development
in this neighborhood.

Educational development

The absence of potential human resources has contributed to
poor education facilities. Cikadu has only two elementary
schools. And until the current education year, it did not have a
junior high school.

Residential areas are scattered and remote. This has made most
parents reluctant to send their children to school because of the
distances needed to be traveled to get to school. Students who
wanted to continue their schooling after elementary level had to
go to other areas, forcing them to walk for hours.

In short, compared to other regions in West Java, the area
lags far behind in providing adequate education and training
facilities for its residents.

Without proper education and other skill-related know-how,
people here will not be able to keep pace with the country's
rapid development. They will only be able to witness development
activities occurring around them, without being able to get
involved.

Private sector help

Cikadu is just one example of the country's underdeveloped
kampongs, whose populations are categorized as prewelfare. While
the government and local authorities have a lot of duties to do
in these areas, they also rely on other parties like social
organizations and the private sector to help with development
plans, accommodate locals' wishes, improve standards of living
and help maintain their valuable natural resources.

The junior high school in Tanjungjaya is one example of what
the private sector can do to support local people. The school was
established by the South Bantenese Developing Foundation, which
is related to a private firm developing Tanjung Lesung, a 1,500-
hectare tourist resort.

In addition to an education program, the foundation has also
helped the local people to improve living conditions by
providing, among other things, access to electricity and clean
water.

Banten was the center of a trading empire in the 1600s. Early
merchants from Europe and the Middle East were familiar with this
area as the traditional nautical gateway to Southeast Asia and
beyond.

Located on the western tip of Java, Banten was the hub of a
commercial empire during the from 16th century to 19th century.

Currently, Banten is home to a wide range of tourist
attractions as well as huge factories and industries.

Access for tourists to get into the area has been very easy
since the operation of the Jakarta-Merak toll road, which
includes a 26-kilometer toll road linking Jakarta and Tangerang,
a four-kilometer Ciujung toll road and a 8.4-kilometer Serang
toll road. This infrastructure totals more than 100 kilometers in
addition to common roads in the area.

There have been gloomy stories from many parts of Indonesia
lately, such as Aceh, Irian Jaya, Riau and other resource-rich
provinces, which have been exploited for a long time for the sake
of the central government, investors and the rich.

External aid

To join in the era of industrialization and globalization,
Banten needs to revitalize its past achievements or it will
continue to be excluded from development.

The role of external parties helping local communities is
crucial as they are not aware yet of what is happening to their
environment and living conditions.

To one extent, people in Banten are generally open to broad-
minded leaders, accepting cultural and religious differences.

The operation of large-scale plants and the existing tourism
industry in the area shows that the locals can accommodate
newcomers, including numerous expatriates.

Banten's history shows it was a melting pot of various ethnic
groups, including the indigenous Sundanese, the Javanese, the
seafaring Bugis from South Sulawesi, the Madurese and Chinese.

According to the late archaeology professor Kuntjaraningrat,
Banten was once an advanced royal territory with highly cultured
people. Aid, therefore, will be perceived with an open hand.