"Safe and strong villages will help ensure the security and strength of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI)," Margono stated during the program's national coordination meeting on Tuesday, as cited in a statement received on Wednesday.
He highlighted the mandate laid down in Law No. 6 of 2014 concerning villages, which stipulates that villages constitute the country's development subject and spearhead.
With that in mind, he emphasized the need to produce strong and nationalist village leaders in order to help villages advance.
Margono then reminded of the importance of ensuring that village governments have a proper level of autonomy, so they can plan and direct various village development programs.
Therefore, he called for the need for village leaders to fully comprehend the concept of defense, be innovative and capable of making progress, and possess a nationalistic outlook as well as love for the motherland.
"The TNI is ready to help villages to succeed in their development programs," he noted.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian stated that villages have the potential to become new economic centers amid the high rate of urbanization.
He called on people to work hand in hand to strengthen village administration in a bid to expedite development processes and properly manage issues resulting from the urbanization trend.
"Villages must be capable of becoming new economic centers and compete with cities," Karnavian remarked.
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Translator: Tri Meilani, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Anton Santoso
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