Turning 66 Years Old, ULM Holds Batang Banyu Expedition to Recognize Potential and Maintain Traditions of River Bank Communities

Banjarnasin – In 2024, Universitas Lambung Mangkurat (ULM) will be exactly 66 years old as an educational institution that is part of Indonesia’s development. As a form of gratitude for reaching the age of 66, Universitas Lambung Mangkurat (ULM) held the Batang Banyu Expedition and Social Service activities which were attended by 11 faculties at ULM.

Carrying the theme “ULM is Here for the Community”, the Batang Banyu Expedition and Social Service activities aim to continue to build closeness between ULM and the community, especially those living on the banks of the river. In addition, through these activities, the ULM academic community can also see the various potentials that exist along the Batang Banyu, such as tourism potential and fisheries potential.

In addition to being attended by the ULM academic community, this activity was also attended by the Batang Banyu Community of South Kalimantan and the South Kalimantan Regional Police with a total of approximately 300 participants. The release of the Batang Banyu Expedition and ULM Social Service was held in front of the Swiss-Bel Hotel Banjarmasin pier.

There are two routes that will be taken in this activity. The Mother Ship will sail from Swiss-Bel Hotel towards Kalayan River towards the estuary, namely Barito River. The accompanying ship will move from Swiss-Bel Hotel towards Kuin River and will meet the Mother Ship in Barito River. Furthermore, all ships will sail together to the location of the Community Service in Balawang Village, Balawang District, Barito Kuala.

There are 5 (five) community service activities carried out in Balawang Village, including:

1. Free health check-ups by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences;
2. Free dental and oral examinations by the Faculty of Dentistry;
3. Distribution and planting of tree seedlings by the Faculty of Forestry;
4. Distribution of 10,000 fish seeds by the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences; and
5. Entertainment with the community led by the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education and the Faculty of Economics and Business.

The term “Batang Banyu” is used in this activity because the term refers to the socio-culture that grows, lives, and develops along the banks of the river. The term is considered to be full of local wisdom values, especially for people who live on the banks of the river.

“The analogy of the trunk is like a tree that can be used as support when tired, while water is a source of life. So, the term Batang Banyu shows that the river is a support for life,” said Daddy Fahmanadie, S.H., LL.M., Secretary of the Implementation of the activity.

The presence of the Batang Banyu Expedition and ULM Social Service in 2024 is an effort from ULM and the Batang Banyu Community led by Prof. Dr. H. Hadin Muhjad, SH., MH to restore the tradition in real life, so that the philosophy of Batang Banyu is realized in the daily lives of the community to be able to restore the sustainability of the river which is termed Batang Banyu.