Village Fund Expected to Narrow Gap Between Villages and Cities: President Jokowi

President Jokowi gives instruction on the Evaluation of Development Policy and Empowerment of Village Communities in Garut Regency, West Java province, Saturday (19/1). (Photo: Agung/PR)

The Indonesian Government until the end of 2019 has allocated Rp257 trillion in village fund throughout the country, according to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

“The Government would like to narrow down the gap between villages and cities as well as to decrease poverty rate in the village,” President Jokowi said during the Evaluation of Development Policy and Empowerment of Village Communities at Ciateul Sports Hall, Garut Regency, West Java province, Saturday (19/1).

The President added that he also wanted the village fund to circulate only in villages to improve welfare of the locals. For this reason, the President advised the people to only use materials and commodities in the villages in every infrastructure project. He cited an example of building irrigation or roads by using local materials and workforce from the respective villages or neighboring village as the most possible option. (EN/AGG/ES)

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Edited by: M. Ersan Pamungkas