Indonesia Village Councils Urged to Support Rural Growth Agenda

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions, Yandri Susanto, called on village consultative councils to strengthen support for rural development programs during the 27th anniversary of the Indonesian Village Consultative Body Association on Thursday, 7 May 2026. He said village institutions play a crucial role in overseeing development across the country’s rural areas.

Yandri urged stronger collaboration to support President Prabowo Subianto’s sixth Asta Cita priority, which focuses on building from villages and grassroots communities to reduce poverty and promote economic equality. He said rural progress requires coordinated action from multiple sectors.

“Village consultative bodies have a very important role in supervising the village development process,” Yandri said. He also encouraged the association to remain active in supporting Indonesia’s long-term development agenda.

Indonesia currently has more than 75,000 villages, making rural governance a major national priority. Yandri said the scale of the challenge requires partnerships between local institutions and government agencies.

He cited cooperation with the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) as one example, warning that drug threats are increasingly reaching village communities. Officials said prevention programs are essential to protect younger generations in rural areas.

The minister also asked village councils and stakeholders to support the government’s priority programs, including the Free Nutritious Meals initiative and the Red-and-White Village Cooperatives program. “Those priority programs are ultimately aimed at improving the welfare of village residents,” he said.