Utilisation of Yogyakarta's Special Autonomy Funds Successfully Empowers Communities

The Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) has assessed that the utilisation of Yogyakarta’s special autonomy funds has successfully empowered communities in the region. Currently, efforts to use the special autonomy funds have driven an increase in community income, poverty alleviation, and a reduction in open unemployment. “We directly monitored the locations and beneficiaries of the DIY special autonomy fund assistance. So far, the results have been extraordinary because it has helped empower the community’s economy,” said Sumule Tumbo, Director of Regional Structuring, Special Autonomy, and the Regional Autonomy Advisory Council, in Jakarta on Saturday, 25 July 2026. This assessment by Kemendagri is based on the results of monitoring and evaluation conducted from 7 to 10 July 2026 in several areas of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY). The evaluation was carried out at Karan Kopek Trimurti, which is developing as a livestock farming area based on community empowerment. It then continued to a ‘mie lethek’ production centre, which is now available in instant noodle form to reach a wider market, and at the Baros canoe tourism site as an example of sustainable environment-based tourism development. In addition, the Kemendagri team also observed first-hand the economic and food self-sufficiency in Sumberharjo and Taman Martani, the revival of tourism in Sambirejo, and held a dialogue with residents at the Taman Martani Cultural Hall. According to Sumule Tumbo, the DIY Special Autonomy Fund is part of transfers to regions allocated to support DIY’s special autonomy affairs as stipulated in Law Number 13 of 2012. Based on this law, there are five authorities of the Special Region of Yogyakarta in special autonomy matters, including procedures for filling the position, duties, and authority of the Governor and Deputy Governor, the DIY Regional Government Institution, Culture, Land Affairs, and Spatial Planning. “We hope that in the future, community empowerment assistance will be provided continuously and on target so that more people are served, thereby accelerating the improvement of community welfare in DIY,” he said. The Head of Trimurti Village, Srandakan District, Bantul Regency, DIY, Agus Purwaka, explained that his party received special autonomy fund assistance of IDR 1 billion. Part of it was used for the development of ‘mie lethek’ production, including the preparation of a production house, equipment, and marketing. “Initially, this ‘mie lethek’ was produced and marketed traditionally. Then, improvements were made to production quality and packaging so that the marketing became more premium and hygienic, allowing it to enter hotels, airports, offices, and so on,” he said.