"We support these efforts to oversee the use of village funds," said Commission Chairman Lasarus during a meeting with the ministry in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Lasarus explained that insufficient oversight from the ministry has led to various irregularities in how village funds are used, with many village heads lacking the financial management skills needed to handle these resources effectively.
"Many village heads have been imprisoned due to misunderstandings about managing state finances," he added.
He also highlighted that some villages show little progress despite the disbursement of funds.
"What happened to these villages?" he questioned.
He stated that the commission is open to collaborating with the ministry to support village development and ensure that the allocation of Rp71 trillion (around US$4.5 billion) in village funds is used effectively.
"We also need to allow villages enough freedom to operate," Lasarus emphasized. "Outsiders shouldn’t encroach on their areas of expertise, as it only weakens the village's capacity."
In addition, Lasarus urged the ministry to focus on developing village-owned enterprises (BUMDes) to help boost local economies.
"We look forward to seeing the ministry’s initiatives. This is a great opportunity to utilize these funds effectively to build and advance our villages," he said.
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Translator: Tri Meilani A, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Anton Santoso
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