Banjarmasin, S Kalimatan (ANTARA) - The South Kalimantan Village and Community Empowerment Office (DPMD) announced that 808 villages from a total 1,871 villages in the province have achieved the status of independent as early of 2025.
While 844 other village, said Head of the office Faried Fakhmansyah when confirmed here on Thursday, are developed villages and the rest in the category of developing.
"With the achievment of 88 percent villages are independed and developed, the provincial government is now focused on uplifting villages that are still developing," he said.
He explained that DPMD keeps on striving to improve independence and progress of villages, including through coordination meeting and Regioal Apparatus Forum to discuss the strategies to support vision of President Prabowo Subianto and South Kalimantan Governor H Muhidin.
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The status of villages is divided into five, namelyunderdeveloped, very underdeveloped, developing, developed, and independent.
In addition to village progress and independency, Faried also pointed out the importance of food security through the allocation of a minimum of 20 percent of village fund to support the national food self-suffieciency program.
"South Kalimanta is expected to be able to contribute to the national food self-suffieciency," he said.
Faried underscored the need of monitoring and resolving obstacles faced in the field, so that each village can carry out the mandate well.
South Kalimantan DPMD also commmitted to provide funding to help village development and accelerate physical development and disaster resilience through development of rural areas.
"With this approach, it is hoped that the village status can increase cumulatively, both from economic and environmental aspect," he said.
The office also provided appreciation to districts for the fastest distribution of village fund, they were Hulu Sungai Utara, Banjar, and Barito Kuala.
Read also: South Kalimantan's developed villages added by 678
