ASSESSING VULNERABILITY OF LOW INCOME FISHERMEN LIVING IN INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS ALONG THE COASTAL AREAS OF REMBANG REGENCY

NUGROHO TRI HUTOMO, Alberto Gianoli IHS

2011 | Tesis | S2 Magist.Prnc.Kota & Daerah

Kerentanan itu sendiri dapat dilihat sebagai konsep yang umum yang dapat Beberapa pendekatan telah dikembangkan oleh para ahli bidang ilmu perkotaan untuk menilai tingkat kerentanan yang bersifat cukup kompleks. Masyarakat miskin dengan keterbatasan aset dan kemampuan yang rendah untuk mengatur aset yang dimilikinya cenderung untuk menjadi masyarakat yang rentan. diterapkan pada suatu bidang penelitian. Dalam penelitian ini, masyarakat miskin yang tinggal di pemukiman liar sepanjang kawasan pantai dipilih sebagai obyek penelitian karena masyarakat tersebut harus berhadapan dengan faktor-faktor yang berhubungan dengan kerentanan. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian yang bersifat eksplanatori dengan menggabungkan analisa kuantitatif dan kualitatif. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mencari hubungan antara faktor eksternal dan aset dengan tingkat kerentanan masyarakat nelayan. Data primer dan sekunder dikumpulkan melalui survei, wawancara dengan masyarakat, pemerintah dan pihak swasta dan terakhir melalui observasi lapangan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa masyarakat nelayan merupakan masyarakat dengan tingkat kerentanan tinggi. Hal ini ditunjukan dengan hasil penilaian terhadap aset yang mereka miliki cukup rendah. Sementara itu faktor eksternal mengakibatkan perubahan terhadap aset yang dimiliki oleh masyarakat nelayan. Bencana alam melemahkan aset berupa aset fisik, sumber daya manusia dan keuangan. Sedangkan kebijakan pemerintah dalam beberapa hal juga turut mengurangi aset yang dimiliki oleh nelayan. Akan tetapi sebaliknya pihak swasta memberikan kesempatan bagi masyarakat nelayan untuk meningkatkan aset yang dimiliki. Hasil penelitian juga menunjukkan bahwa masyarakat nelayan telah mengembangkan strategi untuk mengatasi kerentanan mereka. Strategi yang digunakan melalui penganekaragaman aset serta melalui pengaturan aset yang telah dimiliki. Pemerintah dengan otoritas yang dimilikinya dapat menjadi bagian yang penting untuk menciptakan lingkungan yang menjamin akses masyarakat terhadap aset Beberapa perubahan kebijakan yang berpihak kepada masyarakat dan perubahan yang bersifat institusional diperlukan untuk menjamin kehidupan masyarakat nelayan.

Many approaches have been developed by experts in urban study to assess complex system of vulnerability. Poor people with limited assets and weak capabilities in managing their assets tend to be more vulnerable. In Rembang Regency, there is a phenomenon where the fishermen living around the coastal areas tend to build their house directly facing to the sea in order to fulfil their needs of land for housing. Traditionally they reclaim the coastal line and build housing on it. Neglecting the risk of tropical cyclone that occasionally breaks their house down, still there is a significant number of such housing. Moreover flood and abrasion are common situations should be faced by people in their daily life. Vulnerability can be seen as a general concept which can be applied in any field of research. In this research, low income fishermen who live in informal settlement along coastal areas are chosen to be the object of the research to examine the definitions of vulnerability as the community should deal with vulnerability: stressors coming from external factors (either socially or physically), the sensitivity in facing stressors which affect changes of community and the resilience capability to guarantee life security by adapting with impact of changes. The research is explanatory research which combines quantitative and qualitative analysis. The research is trying to find causative relationship between external factors and livelihood assets with the vulnerability level of low income fishermen. Primary and secondary data are collected through documents, household survey of the community, in-depth interview with the community, government officers and private sectors and field observation. The natural hazard exposures affect the livelihood assets of the fishermen through some ways. They weaken the physical, human and financial capital of the fishermen. The government policy in some senses can erode the livelihood assets of the community. The policy about land utilization, ground fishing policy, fuel conversion and break water project place the fishermen to have lower livelihood assets. But the policy through fishermen cooperative can strengthen the livelihood assets of the fishermen. On the other hand the private sectors offer opportunities to strengthen the livelihood assets of the community through offering job opportunities, opening access to financial services and giving side job to the fishermen. The community is considered to have high vulnerability level. There are some indications to support the conclusions. The fishermen have poor human capital shown by the low education level and low access to health services. Poor financial capital is shown by lacking of access to productive assets such as fishing tools and boats they have low income level. Poor physical capital is indicated by they have limit access to land status which makes them can lose their physical assets anytime. Poor natural capital can be looked from uncertain and unpredictable time to go fishing. However the community have high social capital which is shown by activities of inter-household reciprocity. The fishermen have developed some strategies to cope with the vulnerability. The strategies can be divided into two main types of strategies. The first type is through differentiating their livelihood assets. Strategies which are included in the first type are using various types of fishing tools, creating access to some financial services and forming weekly prayer organizations. And the second type is by managing their livelihood assets that already owned by the fishermen. The strategies which are included in the second strategy are using traditional treatment, extending the working hours, custom of sinoman, running small home based enterprise and modifying the house construction. government The with their authorities can be an important part to make sure that the environment for securing the livelihood assets is created. Some policy changes which take side to the fishermen and institutional arrangements are needed to protect the livelihoods of the fishermen.

Kata Kunci : Kerentanan, aset, strategi mengatasi kerentanan