Village Officials Pledge Support for Free Nutritious Meals and Village Cooperatives Before Minister Yandri
The Indonesian Village Officials Association (PPDI) has declared its support for the implementation of the President’s priority programmes aimed at public welfare, including the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (Kopdes), Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), People’s Schools, Merah Putih Fishermen’s Villages, and others. This statement was read before the Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, and Deputy Minister Ahmad Riza Patria during the PPDI National Working Meeting at the Operational Room of the Ministry of Villages office in Kalibata on Wednesday (17/6).
“If there are shortcomings, it is not the programme that should be scrapped, but its governance that must be improved. Because MBG is greatly needed by village communities, and this includes the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives,” said PPDI Chairman Sarjoko in his statement on Wednesday (17/6/2026). Yandri responded positively to the PPDI’s support, noting that these priority programmes directly target the community. “Thank you for the PPDI’s support for the implementation of President Prabowo’s programmes, namely MBG, Merah Putih Village Cooperatives, People’s Schools, and Merah Putih Fishermen’s Cooperatives,” said the former Deputy Speaker of the MPR RI.
In line with the President’s directive, Yandri stated that if there are deficiencies in the field, maximum improvements should be made rather than halting the programme. He further said that the role of village officials is highly strategic and their position is integral, serving as the backbone of village governance. Therefore, the Ministry of Villages expects the PPDI’s support to successfully realise President Prabowo Subianto’s sixth Asta Cita: Building from the Village and from the Bottom Up for Economic Equality and Poverty Eradication. “Specifically, village officials also oversee the 12 Village Development Actions, namely Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDesa), Merah Putih Village Cooperatives, Food Security Villages, Tourism Villages, Export Villages, village pioneer youth, and so forth,” Yandri said.
Yandri specifically announced that Government Regulation (PP) No. 16 of 2026 has been issued, accommodating and translating the PPDI’s longstanding aspirations. For example, the fixed income (Siltap) will no longer be delayed as before, because it will be directly transferred to the Village Account, ensuring that village officials’ salaries will not be late again. “The salary amount is equalised with Civil Servants at Grade 2A, and there will be periodic income increases,” said the former Chairman of Commission VIII of the DPR RI. Regarding the PPDI’s latest aspiration, Yandri pledged to fight for their employment status to be recorded as Village Employees. This will be consulted with the relevant ministries. “We deeply feel that the PPDI’s strategic role greatly assists the government’s existing programmes,” Yandri said. “Congratulations to the PPDI on its 20th anniversary, two decades, and best wishes for the National Working Meeting. We are ready to receive and fight for the recommendations resulting from this meeting,” concluded Minister Yandri.