Anies Campaign In Pekanbaru: Villages Must Advance Not To Lose To Urban Areas

Presidential Candidate number 1 Anies Baswedan (left) while reviewing the condition of Kampung Bata, in Pekanbaru City, Riau, Wednesday (13/12/2023). (ANTARA/HO-Timnas AMIN)

Presidential candidate number 1 Anies Baswedan promises to prioritize micro infrastructure development, such as village roads and waterways if elected to win the 2024 presidential election, because it is a basic need that must be met by the government.

"The future change is to prioritize meeting basic needs, building not only large infrastructure, but also micro infrastructure. What is it? For example, drinking water facilities, village roads, and others," Anies said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, December 13.

When reviewing the construction of bricks and the condition of Kampung Bata in Pekanbaru City, Riau, Anies assessed that the basic infrastructure in that place had not yet been considered by the state.

Anies also promised to advance the village without displacing it, where there are several points that will be prioritized.

The points for infrastructure development that Anies means include beingautified by villages, increasing village budgets, making health centers and posyandu more proactive, and inviting residents to actively participate in village development.

"We will do it so that the villages feel progress, not inferior to other urban areas. Therefore, we want to pay more attention to the village regarding the fulfillment of its basic infrastructure," said Anies.

In addition to prioritizing infrastructure development in villages, Anies also introduced the Social Assistance Plus program which is an increase from the previous social assistance program.

Program tersebut sekaligus memperkuat salah satu poin perubahan, yakni meningkatkan apa yang sudah baik. Program Bansos Plus memiliki tiga poin utama, yakni plus manfaatnya, plus penerimanya, plus layanannya, kata Anies.

"Secondly, we also introduce Bansos Plus. Plus the benefits are added, plus the recipients, which means that the recipient data is corrected, and plus the service means that the state provides the best service to all recipients of Bansos Plus," said Anies Baswedan.