The clinic serves as a platform to assist indigenous groups and communities seeking recognition from their respective districts,Samarinda (ANTARA) – East Kalimantan has established the region's first and only Legal Clinic for Customary Law Communities (MHA) to support the formal recognition of 506 indigenous communities that currently lack legal recognition from local governments.Siti Sugiyanti, Head of the East Kalimantan Community Empowerment and Village Service (DPMPD), said the MHA Legal Clinic is being developed through the agency's Community Institutions and Socio-Cultural Affairs Division.”Currently, of the 516 customary law communities across East Kalimantan, only 10 have been officially recognized: five in West Kutai, two in Paser, two in Mahakam Ulu, and one in Kutai Kartanegara,” Sugiyanti said in Samarinda on Thursday.Sugiyanti explained that the clinic was established to accelerate the recognition of customary law communities in villages across various districts in East Kalimantan.According to her, the program is in line with the East Kalimantan Provincial Government's commitment to improving the welfare of indigenous communities in rural areas.Mahezha Jennar, an official with the East Kalimantan DPMPD, said the MHA Legal Clinic was established following the formation of the Working Group for the Acceleration of Recognition, Protection, and Empowerment of Customary Law Communities (P4MHA), based on suggestions and input from indigenous community groups.Jennar noted that the clinic is part of the P4MHA Working Group's implementation strategy, designed to improve access to information and facilitate efforts by indigenous groups seeking official recognition from their respective district governments.He said securing official recognition would help ensure the implementation of work programs and empowerment initiatives for indigenous communities.”The clinic serves as a platform to assist indigenous groups and communities seeking recognition from their respective districts, while also serving as a consultation hub for addressing the challenges they face,” Jennar said.Hundreds of indigenous communities are spread across 69 districts and 460 villages throughout East Kalimantan.Through official recognition as Customary Law Communities (MHA), indigenous communities are expected to achieve greater prosperity and self-reliance while gaining greater opportunities to sustainably utilize local resources within their customary territories. Related news: Indonesia pledges faster recognition of customary forests at COP30