I always imagine villages led by women would certainly be cleaner and friendlier, and if it is friendly to women, it must be friendly to children, too
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Women should play a larger role in the development of rural regions, according to Deputy Minister for Villages, Disadvantaged Areas and Transmigration (PDTT) Budi Arie Setiadi.

"I always imagine villages led by women would certainly be cleaner and friendlier, and if it is friendly to women, it must be friendly to children, too," the deputy minister noted in a statement here on Wednesday.

Women and gender equality issues were among the key points in the Rural Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the deputy minister remarked during a visit to Bengle Village, Majalaya Sub-district, Karawang District, West Java Province, on Tuesday.

Setiadi was optimistic that gender equality in the Rural SDGs would help contribute to women-friendly rural development.

Moreover, empowering women means empowering a nation, according to the minister.

Setiadi encouraged leadership of women, as heads of villages, sub-districts, and districts or governors, as it could bring a gender-friendly development perspective.

A village, led by a woman, will ensure that it and its residents receive as much adoration as her children, he affirmed.

"Hence, love is natural, but hate is taught. Hence, I expect this, and to be honest, during this visit to Bengle Village I also want to promote women's leadership in villages throughout Indonesia," he noted.

Based on the ministry’s data, out of 74,953 villages across Indonesia, only some 6,500 villages are led by women.

"Hence, it is less than 10 percent. Similar to Karawang, out of 297 villages, only 20 village heads are women. If possible, 30 percent of the villages should be led by women," he stated.

Setiadi also expressed belief that women not only contributed to the community's social but also economic strength.

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Translator: Katriana, Fardah
Editor: Sri Haryati
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