The student team from the Faculty of Law, Gadjah Mada University (UGM), as recipients of the 2024 Grant from Legal Consultation and Assistance Center of Faculty of Law UGM, successfully held a legal awareness counselling on Sunday (8/9/2024), in Dusun Batikan, Soropadan Village, Pringsurat District, Temanggung Regency. The event was attended by local residents living near the irrigation channel, along with representatives of community leaders, the local youth organization Karang Taruna, and members of the Family Welfare Empowerment (Pemberdayaan Kesejahteraan Keluarga/PKK) group.
The theme of the event was “Green Irrigation Action: Legal Counselling to Maximize Community Involvement in Maintaining Irrigation Cleanliness.” Moderated by Aulia Khisan Ahadsa, the session featured two speakers: Mr. Agus Cahyono, Head of RT 003 Batikan and Director of BUMDes Batikan, and I Gede Made Fajar Marhaendra Putra, a student from Master of Notary Study Program at UGM and a member of the Grant. Both speakers highlighted the critical role and awareness of the community in maintaining irrigation cleanliness, which is essential for sustaining agriculture and daily life.
The activity centered on the theme of “Clean Water and Sanitation,” which aligns with the sixth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The focus of the outreach included: (1) Irrigation Water Management and Environmental Pollution – emphasizing the importance of keeping irrigation channels clean and the impacts of pollution on health and agriculture; (2) Legal Awareness and Obligations – discussing the community’s responsibility in protecting irrigation from pollution; and (3) Waste Management – addressing the challenges and solutions in household waste management.
During his presentation, Mr. Agus Cahyono explained that prior to 1990, the residents of Dusun Batikan relied heavily on irrigation water for drinking and farming, as there were no public water supply services available at that time. However, increasing pollution in the irrigation water has seriously damaged crops and deteriorated water quality. He stressed that it is vital for the community to be aware of their role in maintaining irrigation cleanliness to prevent further damage.
Meanwhile, I Gede Made Fajar Marhaendra Putra highlighted the legal aspects that regulate the obligation to maintain the cleanliness of irrigation. In accordance with laws and regulations as stipulated in Temanggung Regency Regional Regulation Number 9 of 2020 concerning Environmental Protection and Management, the community also has an important responsibility and role in maintaining the sustainability of environmental functions and controlling environmental pollution and/or damage. One form of community role is maintaining the cleanliness of irrigation water. He invited the community to be more active in mutual cooperation activities and increase legal awareness in order to maintain environmental cleanliness.
Additionally, waste management was one of the key topics discussed. Mr. Agus Cahyono highlighted that household waste, particularly disposable diapers, has become a major problem in the area. Although community clean-up initiatives and the local Village-Owned Enterprise (BUMDes) are working on waste management, the waste processing system is not yet optimal and still needs improvement such as waste sorting and training in the use of maggots to decompose organic waste.
The counselling event concluded with an interactive discussion and Q&A session. One of the key issues raised was the challenge of raising the community’s legal awareness regarding irrigation cleanliness. Legal awareness among the public was categorized into three levels: first, driven by fear of law enforcement; second, motivated by social norms and the desire to avoid social friction; and third, stemming from internal legal awareness shaped by cultural values. The speakers emphasized the importance of cultivating internal legal awareness so that community members take responsibility for environmental preservation without the need for strict external regulation.
The event, which ran until 12:00 PM, was met with a positive response from the participants. Many expressed their hope that similar activities would continue in the future to further raise community awareness and encourage greater participation in environmental protection efforts.
Author: Uni Tsulasi Putri (UGM Doctoral of Law Student, Team Member of the Grant from the Legal Consultation and Assistance Center, Faculty of Law, UGM)
Editor: PR
