Suo-Suo Village, Sumay District is one of the villages located in Tebo Regency, Jambi Province. On Monday, September 30, 2024, Suo Suo Village holding Village Development Planning Deliberation (Musrenbang) activities. Musrembangdes is an important forum for planning village development in a participatory manner. This activity aims to listen to community aspirations and formulate development plans that will be implemented over the next year. Village Musrenbang is held to ensure that planned development programs reflect the needs and priorities of the local community.
This year's Musrenbangdes in Suo-suo Village felt different. Not only because of the presence of representatives from the Sub-district Head, Hamlet Head, and village assistants. But for the first time, Talang Mamak indigenous women were present at the forum. Among them, Minar, a mother who cares about the future of the children in Talang Mamak, rose from her seat. Her face radiated determination, but behind it was a great awareness that this moment was a rare opportunity. Talang Mamak Women, who has so far remained more confined to the domestic sphere, is now speaking out in matters of village development.
Minar spoke with a voice full of conviction. He conveyed his aspirations about the need for proper road access for the Talang Mamak indigenous community. The current road, he said, is very difficult to pass, especially during the rainy season. Talang Mamak children often have difficulty reaching their school because the road is muddy and slippery.
"We want a better future for our children, the government needs to prioritize road access and their education," Minar said firmly, looking at the village officials present.
Minar knows that education is the key to change, and without adequate access, the children of Talang Mamak will not be able to achieve it. After Minar sat down again, it was Sonia's turn, a Talang Mamak indigenous woman who is also the Chairperson of the Talang Mamak Simarantihan Women's Farmers Group (KWT) to dare to speak. As the leader of a group whose members are women, Sonia has a broader perspective on the needs of her community. While remembering the results of a special meeting for women in Talang Mamak two weeks before the Village Musrembang. Shyly, she conveyed her aspirations as a woman and Chairperson of KWT. Sonia voiced the importance of the presence of village midwives in the Talang Mamak indigenous area.
"We, the women of Talang Mamak, need better access to health, especially for pregnant women and babies. The presence of village midwives in our location is very important to ensure their safety," she said.
In addition, Sonia also emphasized the need for support to increase the capacity of KWT groups, so that women in her village can be more economically empowered. This support is for the economic development of her group, through training, seed support, equipment and access to markets. She also raised the issue of clean water facilities in their hamlet.
"We need clean water and solar panel electricity," he said.
Clean water is an urgent need, during the dry season, rivers dry up, during the rainy season the rivers flood and the water is murky. Meanwhile, solar panel electricity, according to him, is very important for children who want to study at night.
“With electricity, our children can learn better, without having to rely on oil lamps which are often dangerous or generator lights which require high costs,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sikar, one of the Talang Mamak youths also expressed his aspirations. Sikar as a cadre and Head of Talang Mamak Simarantihan Hamlet explained that previously in Talang Mamak a special meeting for Talang Mamak women had been held, then a hamlet meeting was also held to accommodate the aspirations of Talang Mamak residents.
"Earlier, the mothers from Talang Mamak have conveyed their aspirations, now we, representing the residents of Talang Mamak, also want to add the proposals resulting from the hamlet deliberation that have not been conveyed by Mrs. Minar and Sonia. We propose repairing the bridge, procuring speakers for meetings and building sports facilities for young people such as volleyball courts," added Sikar.
In the musrembang process this time, the Head of Suo Suo Village appreciated the representatives of Talang Mamak which was attended by two female residents and four male residents.
"We from the Village Government are happy that this event feels different because it is the first time that Talang Mamak indigenous women have attended in person and conveyed their aspirations. Thank you also to our friends Warsi who have accompanied the residents of Talang Mamak to come here with great struggle because of the difficult road access," said Julita, Head of Suo Suo Village.
This Musrenbang was colored by the spirit of change. The presence of Minar and Sonia is proof that the women of Talang Mamak are no longer just spectators in village development. They are now an important part of the process, voicing the needs and hopes for a better future for their community. Change does not always come quickly, but with the first steps taken by women like Minar and Sonia, the future of Talang Mamak looks brighter.
