3,942 Gampongs In Aceh Have Disbursed Village Funds In 2021, Focusing On Economic Empowerment

Illustration - A resident in Kudus Regency, Central Java, shows IDR 600,000 in cash (Photo: ANTARA)

ACEH - The Aceh Gampong Community Empowerment Service (DPMG) stated that 3,942 villages or gampongs in Indonesia's westernmost province had disbursed the 2021 Village Fund. The first phase of village funds was used for direct cash assistance (BLT).

"BLT is one of the priorities of the 2021 Village Fund, in addition to economic empowerment and other strategic activities," said Head of DPMG Aceh Azhari in Banda Aceh, reported by Antara, Tuesday, April 20.

Of the 23 districts / cities, three of them have reached 100 percent of the first phase of the Village Fund disbursement, namely the districts of South Aceh, Aceh Tamiang, and Gayo Lues. Other regions, the level of realization varies from 99 percent to 51 percent.

He said there were four regions whose realization was still below 50 percent, such as North Aceh 31.22 percent, Simeulue 16.67 percent, East Aceh 7.21 percent, and Pidie 4.75 percent.

"The reason is that it is late in ratifying the APBK (Regency Budget) so that the Village Fund cannot be disbursed," he said.

Aceh has 6,497 villages with a 2021 Village Fund budget allocation of IDR 4.98 trillion. Villages that have carried out the first phase of disbursement are 3,942 villages with a total budget circulating in the villages of IDR 947.1 billion.

He hopes that other villages will immediately disburse the Village Fund in the first phase, so that the circulation of the budget in the community will be a stimulus in generating economic growth for residents.

He added that there are several districts that have started disbursing Village Funds in phase two, namely South Aceh 12 villages, Southeast Aceh 11 villages, Bener Meriah 14 villages, Lhokseumawe four villages, Aceh Besar three villages, and Nagan Raya one village.

"With a total budget of Rp. 11.8 billion," he said.

Previously, the Head of the Regional Office of the Directorate General (Ditjen) of the Treasury of Aceh Province, Syafriadi, said that the allocation of Village Funds from the central government to Aceh was IDR 4.98 trillion.

"The budget given must be managed properly by all village officials by preparing a development plan quickly, precisely and with direction," he said.

He said the Village Fund was not only directed at strengthening people's purchasing power through BLT, but also supporting SMEs and the agricultural business sector and encouraging the transformation of the village economy through digital villages.

"The goal is to increase and equalize development in Aceh," he said.