By : Salmon Kadepa )*
The government is serious about eliminating the disparities that exist in the Land of Papua through various accelerated development programs. The region which is often referred to as the Earth of Cenderawasih is now receiving great attention in efforts to equalize national development.
Papua’s development is one of the main priorities in the Indonesia-centric policy launched by President Joko Widodo’s government. The government continues to encourage accelerated development in Papua, not only to reduce disparities between regions, but also to improve the welfare of local communities. Various sectors, from infrastructure to socio-economics, are the main focus in transforming Tanah Papua into a more advanced and prosperous region.
Vice President K.H. Ma’ruf Amin emphasized that Papua’s development is a top priority on the government’s agenda. This commitment is in line with the Indonesiacentric vision which aims to ensure that each region gets a fair and equitable share of development.
The government is focusing development efforts in the area nicknamed Little Heaven that Fell to Earth to overcome the inequality that is still felt in various sectors, especially infrastructure and public services.
Various national strategic projects in Papua have started running, with the long-term aim of improving the quality of life of the community and strengthening connectivity between the Papua region and other regions in Indonesia.
Minister of National Development Planning (PPN)/Head of Bappenas, Suharso Monoarfa, conveyed the importance of synchronizing and harmonizing planning and budgeting in accelerating development in Papua.
The government does not only work alone, but also involves various parties, both at the central and regional levels, as well as the private sector in this development process. Collaboration between the central government, regional governments and other development actors is the main key to realizing a more advanced Papua.
This approach ensures that development in Tanah Papua not only runs quickly, but is also effective and in line with the needs of local communities. In this way, the positive impact of development can be felt directly by the people in the area.
Apart from that, Suharso highlighted the importance of planning that is right on target and measurable, especially in terms of budget allocation. The government continues to monitor and evaluate the progress of various development projects in Papua so that they remain on the predetermined path.
Infrastructure projects such as roads, airports, ports, as well as the provision of basic services such as clean water, electricity and health are top priorities. All of this was done to address the basic needs of the Papuan people, which were previously often neglected due to their difficult-to-reach geographic location and development injustices in the past.
On the other hand, Member of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR), Sulaeman L Hamzah, also emphasized that development in Papua has become the government’s focus in the last ten years, especially during the era of President Jokowi’s administration.
Sulaeman noted various significant changes that have occurred in the Land of Papua, starting from the construction of road and bridge infrastructure connecting remote areas, to improving the quality of health and education services.
According to him, this development is very important to strengthen Papua’s position on the national development map, as well as reduce the inequality that still exists between Papua and other regions in Indonesia.
The success of development in this region does not only depend on the availability of funds, but also on the commitment of various parties in ensuring that the development truly provides benefits to the community.
The DPR as a supervisory institution also plays an important role in overseeing the implementation of development programs in Papua so that they run well and according to plan.
At the same time, the government also ensures the active involvement of local communities in every stage of development, thereby creating a sense of shared ownership and responsibility for the development results that have been achieved.
Development in Papua is not only limited to physical development. Efforts to improve the quality of human resources (HR) are also the government’s main focus. Vocational education and training programs are being expanded to improve the skills of the Papuan people, so that they can actively participate in the economic development of their region. In this way, Papua will not only develop in terms of infrastructure, but also in terms of human resource potential that is ready to compete on the national and international stage.
In this context, accelerating development in Papua is not only seen as a technical effort, but also as part of the government’s strategy to realize social justice for all Indonesian people.
Papua has often been a symbol of backwardness and isolation due to its geographical location far from the center of government. However, with a strong commitment from the government, Tanah Papua is now on the right track to achieve progress on par with other regions.
The impact of this accelerated development has begun to be felt in various sectors. In the infrastructure sector, the Trans Papua road has improved access to transportation and distribution of goods. Meanwhile, the construction of airports and ports strengthens Papua’s connectivity with other regions, opening up opportunities for more inclusive economic growth.
In the social sector, health and education services continue to improve, with the construction of hospitals and schools in remote areas. This improvement in service quality provides easier access for the community to obtain basic services that have been difficult to reach.
With the various efforts that have been made by the government, Papua’s development is now running more quickly and effectively. Challenges such as difficult geographic terrain, regional isolation, and limited infrastructure that previously hampered development in this region are starting to be overcome.
The government continues to ensure that every development project in Papua is designed to answer long-term needs, so that the results of this development can last and have a sustainable positive impact on the community.
Papua, which in the past was often marginalized in the national development agenda, now appears as an area that is the government’s main focus. Bumi Cenderawasih is no longer only seen in terms of its natural riches, but also as an area that has great potential for development.
With the ongoing acceleration of development, it is hoped that Papua will be able to eliminate the gaps that have existed and become an integral part of the national development map that is fair and equitable.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Bandung
