New policy for village development

PALU, Central Sulawesi: The government has issued three new policies on village development in anticipation of the social changes occurring as a result of development and the global era.

"The policies include empowering the public and giving them autonomy and authority in development. It will modernize the socioeconomic structure and public culture in their villages," the Home Ministry's Director General of Villagers Development, H. Siagian, said here yesterday.

Empowering village society will be achieved through strategic steps to widen the public's access to the fruits of development and their ability to improve their own resources.

To support these steps, the government will provide opportunities for villages to actively participate in the development process, Siagian said in a seminar here yesterday.

He was quoted by Antara as saying that the government will grant autonomy to local residents, with due consideration to each region's potential and the problems they face.

"With autonomy, the people are expected to identify their own needs and become more active in national development," he added. (mds)