Govt Seeks to Develop Low-Income Rural Communities With New Village Index

The Indonesian government has devised the Developing Villages Index as part of its effort to lift underdeveloped rural communities out of poverty. (JG Photo/Safir Makki)

Jakarta. Indonesia's Ministry for Villages, Underdeveloped Regions and Transmigration has launched the Developing Villages Index, or IDM, in a wider effort to lift the country's underdeveloped rural communities out of poverty.

Villages, Underdeveloped Regions and Transmigration Minister Marwan Jafar said the IDM is different from a previous incarnation, the Village Development Index (IPD), as it will use a more holistic approach by taking into consideration a community's social, economic, ecological, political, cultural and historical aspects.

“This IDM can serve as a government reference for developing Indonesia's impoverished villages so that the residents can build a better, more [financially] independent lives, " Marwan said on Monday.

The ministry has also created three programs to support the new index: the Rural Community Network (JKWD), Rural Economic Center (LED) and the Rural Cultural Center (LBD).

The JKWD aims to educate residents and teach them the necessary skills to develop their community with minimum outside help.

The LED program is designed to provide residents with relevant job skills that can help boost the village economy.

Finally, the LBD initiative trains villagers to essentially become leaders and take charge of the community's social, cultural and economic development.

Nearly 14 percent of Indonesians living in rural communities live below the poverty line, compared to 8.2 percent of people living in cities.

By : Dina Manafe | on 7:16 PM October 19, 2015