Cherlys and Fajri Aji Dharma, two students from the Regional Development program at the UGM Faculty of Geography (Geography UGM), recently conducted a Field Work Lecture (KKL) in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) in East Kalimantan.
Their observations revealed that most residents in the Bukit Raya area of Sepaku, East Kalimantan, have diversified their businesses as a secondary source of income since the opening of IKN.
“Residents acknowledge that since the establishment of IKN, almost all people in Bukit Raya, Sepaku, have engaged in business diversification as a secondary activity apart from their main sources of income,” Cherlys said during the SDGs Seminar titled “Excursion to Nusantara: Sustainability Study of Regional Development in the New Capital” on Wednesday (Jun. 12).
Despite government support for SMEs and industry, local business activities have yet to increase.
On the other hand, the IKN development project has led to an influx of migrant workers, particularly around the construction sites. Cherlys noted that around 60% of the 32,000 workers are migrants, primarily productive-age men from Java with high construction skills, such as skilled masons, ironworkers, and carpenters.
According to her, the presence of migrant workers has both positive and negative impacts on both the migrants and the local population.
“We recommend policies that support the needs of migrant construction workers in IKN, including coherence between migrant and local workers, security, optimization of health and accommodation, and accessibility to achieve optimal worker welfare,” Cherlys added.
Meanwhile, Fajri Aji Dharma shared some tips and tricks for conducting the KKL in his presentation. He suggested setting target designs and timelines early, collaborating to maximize results, and building partnerships with practitioners, local governments, sponsors, and partners.
“Finally, don’t forget to pray and stay positive to facilitate the KKL execution through positive thinking and self-reflection,” he said.
Despite challenges such as accommodation costs, extreme climate and air conditions, and limited facilities and infrastructure at the KKL site, Fajri and his team were grateful to observe and witness the IKN project firsthand.
“Experiencing the social culture and tourist attractions in Kalimantan is something we appreciate,” he expressed.
Dr. Hafidz Wibisono, Coordinator of the SDGs Forum–SDGs Seminar Series at Geography UGM, stated that KKL is mandatory for all Regional Development students to implement their knowledge and gain insights and experience as surveyors.
“Through the SDGs Seminar Series, we aim to facilitate knowledge transfer from students who have been directly involved in field research related to IKN,” he said.
Author: Dita
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photo: Antara