Assessment and Empowerment of Poverty through Local Value in Mentawai Islands

This study analyses the premise, criteria and households size in Mentawai to determine the definition of poverty based on Mentawai’s value. Further, it also analyses how small household’s strategy to overcome poverty by utilizing household economic resources and distribution of work within the household. It uses an anthropology approach and qualitative methods; The research finds as follow;The Mentawai society has its own criteria and measurement of poverty and poor households. They recognize two poor terminologies; Simagebak and Simalilimai. Both of concepts are aimed at the migrant population. Institution-based kinship has a strategic role to empower and to solve the problem of poverty. The development of tribal-based local institutions can be seen in the context of a planned effort to develop human capacity, institutional capacity, improve and synchronize working relationships within institutions so that all administrators are encouraged to improve individual performance and institutional performance. Mentawai communities have the social capital to address poverty, based on Land as communal assets that have not been used and managed for productive enterprises.Strong social solidarity (mutual trust, help and mutual cooperation) at the family and community level, in gathering food and housing needs. Moreover, it has model empowerment through tribal-based local institutions to revitalize local agriculture (organic farming)