Minister of Villages PDT Ready to Support Village Independence in NTB

Mataram (ANTARA) - The Minister of Villages, Development of Underdeveloped Regions, and Transmigration (Mendes PDTT), Yandri Susanto, has emphasised the government’s commitment to supporting the self-reliance of villages in West Nusa Tenggara.

“I have already asked for a mapping of what will be developed from the 1,166 villages/sub-districts in NTB. There will be thematic villages, tourism villages, export villages. We have programmes for that, and we are ready to support the villages in NTB according to their potential,” he said in Mataram on Thursday.

He stated that the Ministry of Villages, Development of Underdeveloped Regions, and Transmigration (Kemendes PDTT) is ready to collaborate and synergise with the NTB Provincial Government (Pemprov NTB), both in the form of programmes and budgetary support, including the Desa Berdaya programme, which is a flagship initiative of the Pemprov NTB.

“There is assistance from the provincial government, from the districts, and from the central government through Kemendes beyond the village funds (DD),” Yandri Susanto revealed after attending the Provincial Development Planning Consultation (Musrenbang) for NTB for 2027.

“If it’s Desa Berdaya, that’s from the governor. We have a programme of 12 village development actions. That (assistance) depends on proposals from each village; we will evaluate them,” he explained.

According to him, the assistance channelled by Kemendes is not one-off. Instead, it revolves through Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) and Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperatives.

“So the assistance from Kemendes is not one-off and then gone. But it revolves through BUMDes and village cooperatives or groups, so it can circulate, absorb labour, and boost the economy. Now it depends on the villages in NTB submitting assistance proposals to Kemendes,” he said.