Village Fund can be used for anything as long as it is directly connected to the growth of the economy and improvement of human resources
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration Abdul Halim Iskandar stressed that Village Fund can be used to support the activities of Integrated Service Posts (Posyandus) in preventing stunting.

"As the spearhead in stunting prevention, Posyandu plays an important role in disseminating the importance of healthy and nutritious food for mothers and children in villages," he noted during a Live Instagram session, Wednesday.

Hence, the minister recommended that the procurement of healthy foods for infants should empower Posyandu workers to prepare them.

Meanwhile, Iskandar said his ministry has created a food security program through the circular economy approach, namely the healthy food creation program from animals, such as goats or chickens.

"This can drive the economy and empower villagers," Iskandar, or usually known as Gus Halim, remarked.

If 74,961 villages implement the food security program, this can drive the village's economy and improve the Indonesian economy significantly.

Gus Halim also remarked that the Village Fund can be utilized to purchase digital baby weighing device or USG device as long as it is not yet funded by other institutions.

"Village Fund can be used for anything as long as it is directly connected to the growth of the economy and improvement of human resources," he explained.

He called on village officials to not be apprehensive in utilizing the Village Fund. As long as it is used in accordance with the regulations with clear administration, then they should not be worried about corruption allegations.

According to data from Gus Halim's ministry, during the 2015-2022 period, Village Fund had been utilized to build 42,300 Posyandus, 1.5 million clean water units, 444 thousand MCK units, and 14,400 Polindes (Village Maternity Facility) units.

It was also utilized to build 45.8 million meters of drainage, 66,700 early childhood education activities, 76,600 well units, and 29 thousand units of sports facilities.

All of these had been developed to prevent stunting.

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Translator: Zubi Mahrofi, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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