"There were 174 independent villages in 2015, and the number has increased to 11,456 villages in 2024. It exceeds the 2024 RPJMN (National Medium-Term Development Plan) target," Iskandar stated during a working meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR RI) on Tuesday.
Iskandar made this statement in response to a question from Commission V of the DPR RI regarding the latest data on the number of independent villages in Indonesia.
The 2024 RJMN targets five thousand independent villages in Indonesia. However, in its implementation, the number has increased significantly, from 174 villages in 2015 to 11,456 villages in 2024.
The ministry also continues to increase the number of independent villages in Indonesia.
Earlier, the ministry's Head of the Human Resources Development and Empowerment of Village Communities, Disadvantaged Areas, and Transmigration Agency, Luthfiyah Nurlaela, stated that community empowerment is needed to realize an independent village.
"We need to empower village communities, disadvantaged areas, and transmigration," she emphasized.
Village community empowerment can be carried out by improving the quality of the government and village communities through training, counseling, and assistance from professional staff to village communities, disadvantaged areas, and transmigration, Nurlaela explained.
To encourage the implementation of village community empowerment, her side has prepared policies and regulations, among other things, related to guidelines for developing the capacity of village communities, disadvantaged areas, and transmigration with the Village Fund.
This dissemination of information is expected to provide a comprehensive understanding for parties in charge of empowering other players in the community, such as the government, village assistants, and village community activists, she noted.
"Through the raising of awareness of policies and regulations on the village's human resources, we hope it can provide a comprehensive understanding for related parties," she revealed.
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Translator: Tri Meilani A, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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