"We will focus on the development of Independent Prosperous Village in some 41 districts and cities that have border regions to address the issue of poverty and improve the people`s welfare," Social Affairs Minister Idrus Marham remarked in a statement, received here on Thursday.
The minister made the statement at the Rector Forum on the Model of Development for DSM in Bandung, West Java, on Wednesday evening.
During the forum, attended by numerous rectors from some 22 universities in Indonesia, the social affairs minister emphasized that the border regions had become the focus of the government`s attention, as they are the vanguards of national defense.
Marham believes that if citizens in border regions are prosperous, then the resilience of the state will also be robust.
Hence, rectors attending the forum were urged to explore villages in the border regions having high economic potential and strong human resource readiness, so that they can be developed on the concept of DSM.
In addition to exploring the potential of villages to be developed, universities are also urged to keep tabs on the obstacles being faced by the villages.
The social affairs minister stated that universities are being involved in the development of DSM at the field level by deploying students to conduct Real Work Lecture, or KKN.
The Social Affairs Ministry`s partnership with universities in developing the DSM program began in 2015, with the development of 140 villages to become independent in realizing prosperity.
The DSM program is a new breakthrough in a bid to accelerate the handling of poverty. Universities are expected to act as initiators and guides based on their potential, capacity, and capability, while the Ministry of Social Affairs will function as the facilitator and director.
Repoting by Desi Purnamawati
(O001/INE)
(T.SYS/A/KR-BSR/F001)
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
