Mendes PDTT Fight for Lumpsum System for Accountability of Village Operational Funds

JAKARTA - Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (Mendes PDTT), Abdul Halim Iskandar, seeks to use a lump sum to account for village operational funds from village funds. This system is considered easier to use by village heads.

According to him, this system is better than at-cost because it doesn't need a lot of documents. So, the village head does not need to be confused.

"The accountability of village government operational funds by the village head is lumpsum, not at-cost, meaning that it is enough to make a 3 percent statement for this or that. Well, that's what we call the lumpsum model. Because if it doesn't or takes the form of at-cost then it traps and misleads the village head," said Abdul in his written statement, Tuesday, November 15.

He said being accountable for this system was homework that had to be done. The goal is that the use of 3 percent as operational funds can be carried out legally.

As is known, village funds can be used for national priority programs according to village authority. One of them is in village government operations with a maximum limit of 3 percent of the total ceiling received by each village.

This policy is contained in Permendes No. 8 of 2022 concerning Priority for the Use of Village Funds article 6 paragraph 2 after a long process with related parties.

Halim claimed to have discussed this with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Finance.

"What I'm fighting for is related to accountability. The operational funds must be a lump sum, not at cost. Did it finally work? Well, hopefully, it will work because the regulations are in the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In addition to village government operations, the priority of using village funds is the same as in the previous year. Including, the allocation for Village Fund Direct Cash Assistance.

However, BLT DD in 2023 is set with a maximum usage limit of 25 percent of the total ceiling for each village.