Iswahyudi
"Environmental Hero Ma Eroh, recipient of the Kalpataru Award from Indonesian President Soeharto in 1988 and the Environmental Award from the United Nations in 1989." That's the inscription at Ma Eroh's grave in Kampung Pasikadu, Santana Mekar Village, Cisayong District, Tasikmalaya Regency.
Ma Eroh's name might not be as famous as Ma Erot's. However, what Ma Eroh has accomplished is truly astonishing. At the age of 45 (in 1987), she embarked on a solo mission to create a water channel from a waterfall named Pasir Lutung in the middle of the forest to her village, spanning 5 kilometers. Armed with a hoe, a small lever, rattan ropes, and other makeshift tools, she traversed the rugged and steep terrain with elevations ranging from 45 to 60 degrees. Initially mocked and deemed crazy by the locals, but when water started flowing into her 400 square meter rice fields, the villagers began to understand Ma Eroh's long-term vision for the survival of their village. In response, her fellow villagers started assisting her in obtaining water for sustaining life, such as irrigating the fields and other needs.
Where did this 'crazy' idea come from in the mind of this 'strong woman'? After the eruption of Mount Galunggung in 1982, the natural landscape around her village changed. Her and her fellow villagers' fields no longer received water supply as the eruption debris had buried the water channels. The fields dried up, jeopardizing their livelihoods. As the breadwinner of her family due to her husband's illness, she tirelessly worked alone to support her family by collecting firewood and food like mushrooms from the forest. It was there that she discovered a spring in the form of the Pasir Lutung waterfall. It seemed like she had found life and hope. The next issue was how to get that water to flow into her village.
Thus came the 'crazy' plan to create a water channel that could reach her village. Initially, this 'crazy' plan was presented to the neighborhood head, but it was dismissed. Instead of support, it was belittled. However, Ma Eroh's determination remained unwavering. With a resolute heart, she began to realize her grand dream. Every day, she went to Mount Dawuhan, where the waterfall was located. She cleared the cliffs, built channels, and using whatever tools she had, Ma Eroh relentlessly carved through the rugged cliffs for 45 meters long, 2 meters wide, and 17 meters high. Sometimes, this mother of three hung from the cliff with just a rattan rope. This solo action continued for 47 consecutive days without pause.
Ma Eroh's efforts were not in vain. She successfully created the "main" channel. She approached the neighborhood head again and invited him to continue the channeling project towards Pasirkadu. The neighborhood head remained skeptical. He didn't believe Ma Eroh could pull it off. After being challenged to prove it, the neighborhood head and his people were astonished.
The people of Pasirkadu finally joined Ma Eroh's cause. The unfinished work was completed collectively. Nineteen families pitched in. As a result, a water channel measuring 4.5 kilometers long, 2 meters wide, and 1 meter deep, passing through eight hills, reached their village. In December 1987, water flowed into Pasirkadu.
The arduous struggle was not easy, nor cheap. The equipment used for Ma Eroh's "project" consumed 10 pickaxes, 15 axes, 10 hammers, 25 machetes, 30 chisels, and 40 hoes. The cost of this equipment was around Rp 400,000. She obtained everything by borrowing from Djai, a resident of Cigaleuh Village. The estimated total cost for creating the water channel amounted to 6 million rupiahs.
Not only that, Ma Eroh's relentless efforts, along with the people of Pasirkadu, also had an impact on neighboring villages such as Indrajaya and Sukaratu. Ma Eroh wasn't a scholar; she didn't even finish elementary school, only reaching third grade. But her grand vision was no less than an engineer's. And all of this stemmed from a simple reason: sustaining life for her family and the people around her. After all, life cannot exist without water. Just as life continues to flow, anything that hinders life, even a mountain, must be split with such simple tools. This strong-willed woman's determination finally 'split the mountain,' bringing life to many.
The 'miracle' performed by Ma Eroh eventually reached President Soeharto, earning her the title of Iron Woman and the Kalpataru Award in 1988. Furthermore, Ma Eroh received another environmental award from the United Nations.
In the 'Pikiran Rakyat' newspaper, Sunday, June 12, 1988, Ma Eroh expressed her pride in meeting President Soeharto. She was very happy to receive 2 million rupiahs in cash, a wristwatch from the vice president, and several health books from the health minister. The 2 million rupiahs were later used by Ma Eroh to buy a field and build a house.
Her return from Jakarta was welcomed by the Tasikmalaya Regent along with Mrs. Adang Roosman, the chairman of the Tasikmalaya DPRD, Utuy Sobandi, and local government officials and employees at the Pendopo.
Afterward, Ma Eroh was paraded around the center of Tasikmalaya city. She stood on an open-top hardtop car, occasionally waving her hand. Behind her were the Kalpataru gifts placed on a table and guarded by officials. Ahead of the hardtop car were police motorcade escorts and a vehicle filled with Satpol officers.
Today, there is a Ma Eroh Monument in the middle of Tasikmalaya city square, depicting her holding a Kalpataru flag facing south. The monument was erected as an appreciation from Tasikmalaya residents for her invaluable contribution that helped the people in her village. To this day, the agricultural land and rice fields around that area still receive water and can yield three harvests per year.
The Kalpataru Award was indeed earned. However, she received no attention afterward, nor funds to maintain the water channel. This is why Ma Eroh had to work hard again to upkeep the water channel. Every morning, she would climb up and down steep hills to inspect the water channel, sometimes at the expense of her own health. This condition made it impossible for Ma Eroh to maintain the 5-kilometer water channel. She even had to be hospitalized at the Tasikmalaya General Hospital due to hypertension. Her high blood pressure, back pain, and spine aches often left her almost unable to move her body.
In her twilight years before her passing, Ma Eroh didn't desire much. She only hoped that the government would install PVC pipes for the water channel to Kampung Pasirkudu. She also hoped for the construction of a mosque in her village since the nearest mosque was 2 kilometers away from her home. Unfortunately, not many people remember Ma Eroh anymore. Her once grand name is only heard during the Tasikmalaya Regency's Environmental Day events. After that, she is forgotten again. Ma Eroh breathed her last on October 18, 2004, and her body was buried right next to her home.
Ma Eroh, Starting to be Forgotten
After Ma Eroh passed away, people began to forget her years of hard work. There were no more invitations or assistance extended to her modest-living family in Santanamekar. Meanwhile, her family did not keep the Kalpataru Trophy awarded to Ma Eroh because it was kept by the Tasikmalaya Regency Government.
Meanwhile, the water channel that Ma Eroh once built was neglected. Many landslides occurred, eroding the water channel, preventing it from reaching the villagers' settlements. Requests from her family to repair the water channel rarely received responses from the local government. In her final years, Ma Eroh's hopes were not extravagant. She only hoped that the government would install PVC pipes for the water channel to Kampung Pasirkadu.
Indeed, Ma Eroh has been memorialized to remember her contributions. However, many Tasikmalaya residents, when asked about the monument's significance, cannot answer. The Ma Eroh Monument stands alongside another figure who received the Kalpataru award a year before her, Abdul Rozak.
He too was an extraordinary figure. A resident of Pasanggrahan Village, Neglasari District, Pancatengah, Tasikmalaya Regency, who received the Kalpataru award in 1987 for transforming tens of hectares of rain-fed fields in his village into more productive ones. Abdul Rozak managed to dig through a hill, creating a tunnel for a water channel by selling his own cattle and land.
Ma Eroh and Abdul Rozak are now monuments, indicating that they are 'men of value.' Their concern for the environment has brought life and lengthened their 'ages,' even though their bodies have been buried."