By: Nandia Abela Cahya )*
The government has demonstrated its commitment to improving services in order to realize economic equality throughout Indonesia. Various strategic steps have been taken to ensure quality public services and equitable development, both in urban and rural areas. This effort is in line with the government’s vision to ensure that every citizen has equal access to basic services, economic opportunities, and better welfare.
The Ministry of Home Affairs through the Directorate General of Regional Administration Development has drafted a Regulation of the Minister of Home Affairs concerning Urban Service Standards (SPP). This standard aims to ensure social justice, economic welfare, and environmental sustainability in urban management. With a measurement method based on data and public perception, local governments are encouraged to provide inclusive and sustainable urban service facilities. This standard is an important part of regional development planning, which will direct city policies to be more oriented towards the welfare of the wider community.
The government also pays serious attention to economic development in villages. The Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions, Yandri Susanto, emphasized that economic equality must start from the village. For this reason, the Ministry of Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration is collaborating with various parties, including the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), in optimizing village development programs. One of the main policies that is being intensified is the allocation of at least 20 percent of Village Funds for the food security sector. This step aims to ensure that villages have sufficient capacity to provide food needs while improving the welfare of farmers and business actors in rural areas.
In supporting economic equality, the government also involves the business sector and cooperatives as pillars of strengthening the community economy. The Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs, Budi Arie Setiadi, emphasized that cooperatives have a strategic role in creating a fairer economic equality. With the number of cooperative members currently reaching almost 30 million people, strengthening cooperatives is expected to encourage food self-sufficiency, development of cooperative-based agro-maritime industries, and downstream industrialization through cooperatives. The Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs also continues to strive to overcome challenges in managing cooperatives, such as small business scales, less modern governance, and limited access to capital.
Concrete steps taken by the government also include developing the village economic ecosystem through Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes). This program aims to strengthen the creative economy sector in villages, create jobs, and increase the competitiveness of local products. The Ministry of Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration is also working with the Ministry of Environment to run the “No Residue” program, which focuses on managing village waste so that it does not become an environmental problem.
The sustainability of these economic equality programs is also supported by transparency and accountability policies in the management of Village Funds. The Ministry of Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration has collaborated with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), the Attorney General’s Office, and the Indonesian Police to ensure that the funds allocated are truly used for the welfare of the community. This step shows the government’s seriousness in creating clean governance that is oriented towards the interests of the people.
The government also continues to strengthen collaboration with various sectors to optimize public services and community empowerment. In the health and education sectors, efforts to equalize basic services are the main focus. One of the programs currently being developed is Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), which aims to ensure that the nutritional needs of the community are met, especially in remote and disadvantaged areas. This program involves BUMDes in providing food raw materials, so that it not only improves public health but also strengthens the village economy.
Economic equality is also inseparable from the role of women in development. The Ministry of Villages and the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection have collaborated in opening up participation spaces for women in villages. Complaint centers in village offices were established to protect the rights of women and children, so that villages can become friendlier and more inclusive environments for all their citizens.
Through various programs that have been running, the government is committed to creating an inclusive, sustainable development ecosystem that is able to improve people’s welfare evenly. With synergy between the central government, regional governments, and various related sectors, economic equality is not only a vision, but also a reality that can be felt by all Indonesian people.
The government is also trying to make villages a friendly place for women and children. Incooperation between the Ministry of Villages and the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, complaint centers will be established in village offices to handle cases of violence against women and children. This program reflects the government’s seriousness in creating a safe and conducive environment for all levels of society.
Overall, the various policies and programs currently being implemented by the government show a strong determination to realize economic equality. With synergy between the central government, regions, and the community, it is hoped that every citizen can feel the benefits of development evenly. Through an inclusive development strategy, the sustainability of the national economy can be realized for the welfare of all Indonesian people.
)* The author is an observer of the people’s economy
