Inilah Kisah Prajurit TNI Yang Bertaruh Nyawa Agar Anak - Anak Desa Bisa Sekolah

Berbekal tali slag atau katrol, selembar papan dan bambu, Sersan Kepala (Serka) Darwis, prajurit TNI Korem 143/HO Kendari membantu sejumlah anak-anak sekolah menyeberangi derasnya arus sungai Ranteangin di Kolaka Utara (Kolut), Sulawesi Tenggara (Sultra).

Setiap hari, anggota Babinsa Lalusua, Kolaka Utara itu harus bertaruh nyawa untuk membantu para siswa melintasi sungai selebar 60 meter tersebut. Aktivitas penuh risiko itu dilakoninya sejak 2012 silam.

"Satu kali seberangkan anak-anak untuk sekolah bisa tiga orang, bahkan anak kecil saya gendong dengan pakai sarung. Supaya aman, tali dililitkan di badan anak-anak kalau mau nyeberang," tutur Darwis dihubungi via teleponnya, Sabtu (5/8/2017).

Kondisi itu terjadi karena tidak ada jalan alternatif lain yang bisa digunakan warga Desa Maroko, Kecamatan Wawo untuk menuju Desa Tinakari, Kecamatan Ranteangin, Kolaka Utara.

Di desa itu belum terdapat fasilitas pendidikan ataupun pasar, sehingga warga Desa Marako harus menyeberangi sungai agar bisa sampai tujuan.

Kondisi tersebut sudah berlangsung berpuluh-puluh tahun, namun hingga kini Pemerintah Daerah Kolaka Utara tidak kunjung membangun jembatan penghubung dua wilayah itu. 

"Kalau cuaca bagus bisa dibantu sama kakak-kakaknya, kalau cuaca buruk saya harus ada di situ karena berbahaya," ujarnya.

Dia bercerita, sebelum ada alat tali gantung, anak-anak harus menyeberangi sungai dengan rakit darurat yang terbuat dari batang pohon pisang.

Akhirnya warga pun berswadaya membeli peralatan tali, bambu, dan papan untuk membuat jembatan tali tersebut. Ketinggian gantungan tali yang menjadi jalur penyeberangan warga, dari permukaan air sekira 7 meter.

Pada musim kemarau, kedalaman air sungai sekitar 2 meter, sedangkan saat musim hujan, ketinggian air mencapai 6 meter.

"Dari Desa Maroko siswa SD dan SMP satu atap harus ditempuh 3 kilometer dan untuk siswa SMA atau Aliyah 6 kilometer jaraknya dari rumah mereka," kata Darwis.

Anggota TNI yang akan pensiun 6 tahun lagi itu menyebut, niatnya untuk membantu didasari oleh harapan agar anak-anak di Desa tersebut bisa tetap mengenyam pendidikan. 

"Sebagai anggota Babinsa kita diwajibkan untuk membantu masyarakat, bukan hanya mengetahui masalah masyarakat tapi juga harus dicarikan solusinya. Termasuk soal akses pendidikan masyarakat di wilayah dampingannya kita," sebutnya.

Sementara, para pelajar mengaku takut karena setiap kali bergantung di tali ini untuk menyeberang sungai. Terlebih saat musim hujan arus sungai begitu deras.

"Sebenarnya saya takut sekali kalau saat banjir," kata Usman, siswa SDN 2 Wawo, Selasa (18/7/2017).

Tak hanya anak-anak, warga yang hendak menjual hasil panen kebun mereka juga melintasi Sungai Ranteangin dengan menggunakan tali gantungan. 

Kompas

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