Srikandi Jaga Desa prepares women to be the driving force of the local economy

JAKARTA - Village women not only play a role in maintaining family resilience, but also become local economic drivers through micro-enterprises.

Departing from this spirit, the Jaga Desa Women officially began their organizational steps through the first National Consultative Meeting (Munas) held in Jakarta, Thursday, July 2, 2026.

The forum became a consolidation space before the inauguration of national and regional leaders which was scheduled a day later.

The Chairperson of the DPP Srikandi Jaga Desa Ella Nurlaela Tubagoes said that this organization was formed to strengthen women's involvement in village development, ranging from economic empowerment, education, health to the protection of women and children.

"Srikandi Jaga Desa will become a partner of the village government and BPD in overseeing transparent development while encouraging the strengthening of MSMEs and family economies," he said.

BPS data for 2024 recorded that women controlled 64.5 percent of MSMEs or around 37 million people.

The sector is the backbone of the national economy with a contribution of around 61 percent to GDP.

Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the National Village Consultative Agency Association (ABPEDNAS) Reda Manthovani assessed that women have a strategic position in maintaining accountability for village development.

According to him, the involvement of women in supervision will strengthen governance and protect the interests of village communities.

"The presence of the Village Guard Women is not merely a complement to the organization, but a rational and humanistic oversight pillar at the grass-roots level. When women are actively involved in monitoring the direction of village policies, potential deviations can be suppressed and protection of the living space of the community becomes much more measurable," said Reda.

Meanwhile, the General Chair of the DPP ABPEDNAS Indra Utama added that sustainable village development requires synergy between all elements of society, including women as the main foundation of village social and economic life.

"Building a self-sufficient and strong village cannot be done in part, let alone leaving the role of women. Srikandi is present as a strategic wing of ABPEDNAS to touch the most vital social foundations. This synergy between BPD and women's initiatives will create a village ecosystem that is highly resilient to various challenges of the times," said Indra.