Ministry of Villages Partners with Presidential Staff Office to Address Thousands of Underdeveloped Villages Across 30 Regencies

The Ministry of Villages and Underdeveloped Regions is partnering with the Presidential Staff Office to undertake strategic steps to advance approximately five thousand underdeveloped villages spread across 30 regencies.

The Minister of Villages and Underdeveloped Regions, Yandri Susanto, stated in Jakarta on Monday that this move is necessary as these 30 regencies are the largest contributors to ‘Underdeveloped’ and ‘Very Underdeveloped’ village categories, totalling 9,300 villages.

“This must be done in line with the sixth ‘Asta Cita’ (eight priorities), which is to build from the villages and from the bottom to achieve economic equality and the eradication of poverty,” said Yordri.

He explained that around five thousand villages in these regencies currently lack electricity, mobile signals, adequate healthcare and education facilities, and clean water access. “Around 6,000 villages are located within these 30 regencies, accounting for almost 75 per cent of the total. If this can be resolved, then the issue of underdeveloped regions can, God willing, be settled,” added the former Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR RI).

He noted that this initiative requires collaboration from all parties, including donor nations, the private sector, and State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), to ensure that during President Prabowo Subianto’s first term, the challenges facing the Frontier, Outermost, and Remote (3T) regions can be addressed.

During the same session, the Head of the Presidential Staff Office, Dudung Abdurachman, stated that the coordination meeting aims to provide direct insight into the real conditions within the 30 regencies classified as 3T areas. Dudung remarked that as Indonesia approaches 80 years of independence, strategic steps must be taken to resolve issues such as education, health, and infrastructure facilities.

“These are the issues we must solve, and I will report them to the President,” he said.

Regional heads will also be given the opportunity to meet President Prabowo to present reports that will serve as direct input for the President. The meeting was attended by high-ranking officials from the Presidential Staff Office, representatives of Regents from 3T regions, and the Deputy Minister of National Development Planning, Febrian Alphyanto Ruddyar.