"I want village heads to take full advantage of the government's various programs to raise the living standards of rural communities," he said at a webinar attended by members of the Indonesian Association of Village Governments (Apdesi).
According to an official statement released on Saturday, Mauladi emphasized that cooperatives formed under this initiative could help boost rural economies by absorbing local farmers' produce, providing capital for new businesses, and reducing unemployment.
He added that Red and White Village Cooperatives are also expected to shield villagers from predatory lending practices by providing savings and loan services as part of their cooperative operations.
The deputy minister further noted that President Prabowo Subianto has issued a directive, setting the target of establishing 80 thousand cooperatives in the early stage of the program's implementation.
Mauladi also linked the cooperative program to Indonesia's transmigration movement, pointing out that many villages across the country were founded by transmigrants and are thus, within the scope of the Ministry of Transmigration's responsibilities.
Since its inception in 1950, the transmigration movement has led to the establishment of 1,567 villages across the islands of Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua.
"While the administrative affairs of these villages fall under the authority of regional governments and the Ministry of Home Affairs, the responsibility for empowering them economically lies with the Ministry of Transmigration," he explained.
He highlighted that his ministry has launched several initiatives to industrialize transmigrant villages, aligning with one of President Prabowo's key missions: developing Indonesia from the rural level.
"Villages can play a crucial role in stimulating economic growth and achieving social justice," he stressed.
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Translator: Uyu Septiyati, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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