West Lombok set to develop villages

The West Lombok regency administration is taking development of its villages seriously, introducing various programs and additional funding.

In January this year, the regency began implementing the Rural Integrated Development (Gerdubangdes) program involving half of the administration’s 8,372 employees.

In the program, civil servants in the regional working units (SKPD) are required to travel to 88 villages across the regency’s 10 districts every Thursday and Friday to speak to people and encourage their involvement in developing their areas.

“They will meet members of the community, provide counseling and listen to their opinions, which will later serve as a benchmark for the members of the units to plan future programs,” West Lombok administration spokesman Ispan Junaidi told The Jakarta Post.

He said the Gerdubangdes program was based on the regency’s 2009-2012 development vision and mission under regent Zaini Arony and deputy regent Mahrip.

The program was introduced to take into account the fact that almost 90 percent of the people in the regency lived in rural areas.

“Rural development needs the administration’s direct intervention, such as with the Gerdubangdes program. The program makes us aware of people’s needs and problems.

“Development is for the people and the government’s role is to facilitate and arrange the regulations,” Ispan said.

The administration’s attention is manifested in the increase in the Village Allocation Funds (ADD) in 2010, amounting to Rp 200 million (US$21,000) per village, compared to only between Rp 80 million and Rp 120 million previously.

Apart from improving the government’s image, the Gerdubangdes program also aims to raise people’s awareness and participation in development programs.

In the process, each SKPD will supervise and be responsible for development of a number of villages. The local fishery and maritime affairs office, for instance, will be responsible for developing villages along coastal areas and islands.

The program also supports the One Village One Product (OVOP) program initiated by the central government, as part of efforts to improve people’s wellbeing.

“West Lombok is currently focusing development in the villages because regional autonomy is actually about the villages,” Zaini told the Post.

Currently, 30 NGOs affiliated with the West Lombok Civil Society Network (JMS) have been providing counseling to villagers for the past three years to raise the communities’ capacities by engaging them in so-called “berugak discussions”.

The idea is simple: virtually every home on Lombok Island is equipped with a berugak, a gazebo-like structure covered with a thatch roof, usually used by the family to relax or greet guests.

The network has been working to improve human resource quality through the berugak discussions by involving small groups from within the society. The concept is expected to boost the implementation of the Gerdubangdes program.

In Kekeri village, Gunungsari district, for example, a number of women would gather in a berugak in front of the house of Ibu Anna, the younger sister of village chief Hafizzin, after Friday prayers.

They chat not about TV drama plots or gossip programs, but more on actual issues directly affecting their lives, families and the community, such as the rising food prices and a plan to hold cooking lessons.

“At least with the cooking skills the women can help improve the family income,” Kustiah, an ordinary villager who peddles rice from a basket around the village, said.

Kustiah and 35 other women in Kekeri village have formed an informal group called the Community Center Mandiri (CCM), of which she is the leader.

The center, whose members are largely made up of housewives and young women who have finished schooling, conducts its activity right there, in Anna’s berugak.

“The most important thing for us is that we can hold discussions, contribute ideas and do real things to support development,” Johrah, the center’s 25-year-old secretary, said.