Jakarta (ANTARA) - An official from the Home Affairs Ministry suggested utilizing the village funds to support the drug eradication program carried out by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) through the Village Clean from Drug (Bersinar) Program.

The ministry's official of the Directorate General of Politics and General Government, Aang Witarsa, stated that this had been stipulated in Regulation of the Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration Number 7 of 2023 concerning Priority Use Details of Village Funds.

"It is stated in Article 6 and Article 7. Now, this is a breakthrough," he remarked in the Bersinar Program Workshop in Medan, North Sumatra, on Tuesday.

In Article 7 as referred to in Article 6, it is stated that the utilization of village funds to organize health promotion and healthy living community movements can be conducted to prevent and eradicate the abuse and illicit trafficking of narcotics and narcotic precursors.

According to Witarsa, such regulation was a breakthrough that could help BNN in implementing the eradication program down to the village level.

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However, he emphasized that drug eradication is a joint responsibility. Thus, drug issues at the regional level should become a reflection for the central government.

He highlighted that the government had focused on 10 areas prone to narcotics trafficking, such as North Sumatra, Riau Islands, Riau, Jakarta, West Java, East Java, South Sulawesi, and East Kalimantan.

"Drug problem does not only occur in North Sumatra but also in other regions. The government is keeping an eye on 10 regions in this issue. The number one is North Sumatra Province," he explained.

Hence, to this end, a reconditioning regarding the division of affairs in handling drug eradication is deemed necessary. According to Witarsa, the regional government should be obliged to participate in this effort.

"The regional government should also participate in the central government problems and not only helping in basic service," he emphasized.

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Translator: Bagus Ahmad R, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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