Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Abdul Halim Iskandar affirmed that utilization of the 2021 Village Fund should prioritize improving the economy and empowering village communities.

"Anything you want to utilize, as long as the direction is for economic improvement and community empowerment, you can," Halim clarified while elaborating on the 2021 Village Fund priorities in Lumajang, as noted in a press release received in Jakarta, Friday.

Priority for the use of the 2021 Village Fund is stipulated in Regulation of the Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Areas, and Transmigration Number 13 of 2020 on Priority for the Use of Village Funds in 2021.

While raising awareness, Halim also urged village heads to refer to the Village Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in planning development directions. Two goals in the Village SDGs are Village Without Poverty and Village Without Hunger.

"How do you do it? Build a tourist village; develop micro, small, and medium enterprises; and so on. If anyone is asked what to build when he becomes a village head, the answer must be clear," he noted.

Village SDGs are a follow-up to Presidential Regulation Number 59 of 2017 on the Sustainable National Development Goals. If there are 17 goals in SDGs, then there are 18 goals in Village SDGs.

Apart from Villages Without Poverty and Villages Without Hunger, the other objectives of Village SDGs encompass Villages that Care for Health and Villages that Care for Education.

"All existing problems will be easily handled through Village SDGs. That is why Village SDGs are the direction of village development policies," he added. Related news: Realization of village funds reaches Rp61.28 trillion
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Translator: Dewanto S, Azis K
Editor: Suharto
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