Village Funds Since 2015 Reaches IDR 539 Trillion, Mendes PDTT: Must Continue With Assistance

Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration (Mendes PDTT) Abdul Halim Iskandar. (doc Kemendes PDTT)

JAKARTA - Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (Mendes PDTT) Abdul Halim Iskandar encourages village development to be more active in the future.

"The development of villages is increasingly existing. Development must be better and its legacy must also be developed," said Mendes PDTT in a statement in Jakarta, Tuesday, January 16, which was confiscated by Antara.

He emphasized that towards the end of the 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) period, the village development process must be more active and have a real impact, especially in improving community welfare by reducing poverty levels in rural areas.

He said the development of the village, which is a big part of President Joko Widodo's policy, could not be separated from the disbursement of village funds from 2015 to Rp539 trillion.

"This figure is not a small number and this must continue with the mentoring process to make villages able to reach even higher levels," he said.

He asked all village funds to be directly benefited, especially in the lowest class.

However, he said, the benefits of the village funds could still be felt from various groups, even though indirectly, one of which was with better village infrastructure.

According to him, the number of village funds must continue to be increased in line with the wider authority of the village, so that the village is truly the subject of development, and is increasingly creative by utilizing the potential of villages whose conditions vary.

"Village funds must be added, this is what we are fighting for through the revision of the Village Law. Of course the authority is also. Don't just talk about additional village funds, this is absurd and in vain if the authority is not given. Later in the end, it will be confused," he said.

Previously, Mendes PDTT said this year was a gamble to achieve the target set in the 2020-2024 RPJMN and the 2005-2025 National Long Term Development Plan (RPJPN).

"Therefore, the hustle and bustle of democratic parties should not affect performance. We must continue to work hard to complete strategic targets in the fields of villages, disadvantaged areas and transmigration," he said at the opening of the Ministry of Health's Working Meeting for the 2024 Fiscal Year in Bali, Monday, January 15.