Minister of Social Affairs Khofifah Indar Parawansa said here on Thursday that several social welfare programs will be conducted in the villages by students from 14 universities.
"We have already framed the programs. Universities will be responsible for constant supervision," she added.
The Ministry of Social Affairs has signed a memorandum of understanding with 14 universities to plan the independent, prosperous villages.
Among the universities involved are the Semarang Sultan Agung Islamic University, Gadjah Mada University, University of Ciputra Surabaya, Malang Islamic University, University of Malang, and Makassar Hasanuddin University.
Moreover, Parawansa pointed out that universities will organize a student study service in the villages at least three times a year.
Therefore, the partnership between the government and universities can assist in providing mentoring to strengthen the villages and to report the progress of their development.
Parawansa defined the independent, prosperous villages as those where people will have self-reliance and where there will be community participation and high social solidarity.
People are also capable of fulfilling their basic needs, developing sustainable livelihoods and creating value out of rural productivity.
The villages have been planned to be developed in West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, Jambi, and Jakarta.
To build the prosperous villages, the Ministry of Social Affairs will improve the homes considered unfit for habitation, set up business groups, develop environmental facilities, and provide social security for disaster victims.
The minister revealed that there are 5,000 underdeveloped villages and 2,000 independent villages where the government will implement welfare programs.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
