Home Affairs Ministry: Kopdes as Momentum to Strengthen Village Self-Reliance

Jakarta, VIVA – The Director General for Village Governance Development at the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri), La Ode Ahmad P. Bolombo, accompanied the Minister of Home Affairs and the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs at the inauguration of the Operationalisation of 1,061 Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih (KDKMP) by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, in Nglawak Village, Kertosono District, Nganjuk Regency, East Java Province, last weekend. The inauguration was marked by President Prabowo pressing a siren button as a symbol of the start of the national operationalisation of the Merah Putih Village/Desa Cooperatives. In his address, President Prabowo emphasised that the inauguration of 1,061 Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih marks an important milestone in strengthening village-based people’s economy, La Ode Ahmad P. Bolombo quoted Prabowo. ‘The existence of these cooperatives is expected to drive village economic self-reliance through absorbing community production, distributing essential goods, and strengthening access to economic services for village communities,’ added La Ode. Furthermore, La Ode said that the operationalisation of Merah Putih Village/Kelurahan Cooperatives is a strategic step in building a sustainable village economic ecosystem that benefits the people. ‘This programme of Merah Putih Village/Kelurahan Cooperatives is an important momentum to strengthen village self-reliance. With the synergy between the central and regional governments, the cooperatives are expected to become drivers of the community’s economy while also reinforcing national food security,’ said La Ode. Meanwhile, the Coordinating Minister for Food Security Zulkifli Hasan, also known as Zulhas, said that the Merah Putih Village/Kelurahan Cooperatives programme is not merely physical development but an instrument of economic justice for rural communities across Indonesia. The event was attended by members of the Merah Putih Cabinet, members of the Indonesian DPR, ministers, the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, the Chief of Police, the Speaker of the MPR, the Governor of East Java, regional leadership coordinating forums of East and Central Java, regional heads from across East Java, all regional heads virtually, village heads, and the administrators of Merah Putih Village/Kelurahan Cooperatives from various regions of Indonesia. Through central and regional government synergy, the operationalisation of Merah Putih Village/Kelurahan Cooperatives is hoped to drive village economies, strengthen national food security, and improve the welfare of communities toward realising the President of the Republic of Indonesia’s Asta Cita.