Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration underscored that collaboration between village facilitators and other relevant parties is vital for expediting the realization of independent villages.

Head of the ministry's Human Resources Development and Community Empowerment Agency (BPSDM), Luthfiyah Nurlaela, noted in the ministry's statement received here on Wednesday that collaboration is needed to address complex problems riddling villages that cannot be resolved partially.

In this regard, she underscored the need for an integrated approach through cross-sector collaboration.

The Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration then initiated efforts to realize this collaboration by holding a focus group discussion involving 12 ministries and agencies, among others, in Kupang, Makassar, and Belitung.

The discussion was also held to synergize empowerment and development assistance in villages.

"Other ministries and agencies also focus on thematic assistance in villages. Thus, this collaboration is crucial to accelerate the achievement of the goals," she remarked.

Nurlaela underlined the multifaceted nature of collaboration, which demands harmonizing perceptions, determining shared goals, and strengthening commitment to cooperate, among other things.

"We must accelerate the increase in the number of independent villages in Indonesia, which is still low compared to the total number of villages," she emphasized.

Furthermore, Nurlaela stated that a holistic approach is necessary to tackle the complexity of problems and maximize the villages' potential.

"I hope this collaboration would run well and be based on the spirit of togetherness," she remarked.

Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration Abdul Halim Iskandar is scheduled to launch the Village Assistance Collaboration Program on Wednesday.

The program will involve several parties, such as community development workers, parties from the Family Hope Program (PKH), and agricultural extension workers.

According to data from the Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration, the number of independent villages in 2024 has reached 17,199.

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Translator: Tri Meilani, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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