Efforts To Alleviate 22,000 Underdeveloped Villages

PDTT Mendes, Abdul Halim Iskandar. (Photo by: Setkab)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Areas, and Transmigration targets as many as 22,000 underdeveloped villages to be isolated and capable of becoming developing villages in the 2020-2024 period.

Minister of Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Abdul Halim Iskandar said that, initially, his party only targeted 10 thousand villages to be alleviated. However, President Joko Widodo asked that the target be increased.

"The ministry is targeting 10 thousand, from 27 thousand villages. However, the President has asked to increase it to 22 thousand villages," said Abdul Halim, in Bululawang District, Malang Regency, East Java, Saturday, December 28.

Abdul Halim explained, of the total 27 thousand underdeveloped villages in Indonesia, indeed as many as 5,000 villages could not be handled. As many as 22 thousand underdeveloped villages are targeted to become developing villages by 2024.

"The president asked, out of 27 thousand villages, five thousand to be left, because if all are not able to. So, there are around 22 thousand, from the initial ten thousand that the ministry is targeting," said Abdul Halim.

He hoped that by upgrading these underdeveloped villages, it could increase the economic turnover in rural areas. Abdul Halim added that one of the efforts to improve the village economy is by optimizing Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes).

For the record, specifically for the Malang Regency area, in 2020 the Village Fund allocation reaches IDR 383.48 billion. Meanwhile, the Village Fund allocation in 2020 for the entire territory of Indonesia reaches IDR 72 trillion.

"This is an extraordinary commitment from President Joko Widodo for village development," said Abdul Halim.

In an effort to encourage the acceleration of the economic turnover of the village, the government will disburse the first phase village funds by 40 percent in January 2020. This disbursement is greater than before, which amounted to 20 percent of the allocation of each village.

It is hoped that with the distribution of the Village Fund in the first phase of reaching 40 percent, it can have a direct impact on the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) sector, including Village-Owned Enterprises.