Village funds must benefit all villagers, primarily those from the middle- to low-income class, he said during a public lecture at Gajah Mada University, Yogyakarta, on Thursday.
The utilization of village funds must be based on the no-one-left-behind concept, or an inclusive development principle, he added.
This means that it must not neglect anyone, whether women, people with disabilities, or other marginalized groups, he explained.
Iskandar then informed that his ministry has adopted a concept that has been developed globally, namely that of Village Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Development based on village SDGs envisages planning direction that matches villages' condition, he said during the public lecture, which was themed “Sustainable Village Development and Modern Transmigration Revival for the Nation's Advancement.”
"Village SDGs have become village development course that the people can easily understand," he noted.
Village SDGs have been formulated as an instrument to facilitate development in Indonesia, the minister added.
Village SDGs-based data is micro in nature and can be utilized by all related stakeholders, starting from the central to the village level, he said.
The data can become the foundation to determine the course of village development policies.
In addition, it also can become an important instrument in the utilization of village funds.
"With valid, complete, and up-to-date data, village governments can see village problems and potentials in greater detail," Iskandar explained.
Earlier, the minister had noted that the secrecy of data will always be maintained and it will only be accessed directly by certain parties, in this case, village chiefs and secretaries.
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Translator: Zubi Mahrofi, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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