SEA NOMADS IN BATAM: A PHENOMENON IN DEVELOPMENT POLICY IN BERTAM ISLAND, BATAM

Abstract

Sea nomads are one of indigenious people that inhabit the waters of Riau Island with the greatest number recorded in the Department of Social of the Republic of Indonesia database 1988, with which 11,23% is concentrated on Batam waters, located in Malaka and Philip Straits, and South China Sea. It is called Sea Nomads since its people live nomadic by doing the whole life activities in a boat or watercraft covered with Kajang. Nomadic Life in the Sea Life certainly does have risks that can sometimes be life-threatening if the sudden bad weather comes, besides the lack of social services affordability they should get as citizens including education, health, and housing. It is also recalled that since 1973 Batam as a strategic area of border regions grew into regional industry, commerce, shipbuilding, and tourism which has the authority of developing the region. The rapid development in Batam certainly has an impact on the lives of the sea nomads, including the development program proposed the Ministry of Social of the Republic of Indonesia, particularly their placement in the settlement since 1989, which involved the elements of the local community, the Social Organizations called Social Communication and Consultation (SCCF) of Batam located in Bertam island, Batam. This paper attempts to describe the life of the sea nomads who have experienced life changes that are settled on the Bertam island of Batam by presenting the impact caused by the development policy.