Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration Abdul Halim Iskandar said harmony between administrative and customary villages is the key for the preservation of village cultural roots.

The minister, popularly known as Gus Halim, pointed out the synergy between administrative and customary village administrations of Kutuh in Badung District, Bali, as a successful harmonization.

“I see harmonious collaboration between the administrative village head and customary village head in Kutuh Village,” Halim stated during his visit to Kutuh Village on Sunday.

Villages in Indonesia must learn from the success of Kutuh Village, he noted while underlining a recurring case in other villages where relations between administrative and customary villages are not cordial.

“We lauded Kutuh Village’s amazing synergy that must be imitated by other villages,” Halim said.

Collaboration between administrative and customary village governments could be done in many sectors, including in the economic sector through the development of village-owned enterprises, the minister added.

“The collaboration would yield economic income, and the administration’s final goal to realise prosperity for the villagers would be achieved,” he said.

The administration of Kutuh Village, located in the southernmost tip of Bali Island, is performed by two village leaders locally called as “perbekel” who serve as the administrative village head, and “bendesa”, the customary village leader.

Village-owned enterprises in Kutuh Village has recorded an annual net profit of Rp14.5 billion (around US$1.015 million) from the total Rp50 billion (around US$3.5 million) of income.

Currently the village has nine business lines namely Village credit agency; Pandawa Beach tourism area; Gunung Payung Cultural Park; a paragliding facility; Kecak dance show, goods and services unit, religious service unit, transportation unit, and construction service unit.

Source: Antara News