By: Mahmud Anta (Secretary-General of the Executive Board of the Joronga Student Association (PB IPMAJOR), South Halmahera Regency)
Becoming a village head in today’s era is not just about winning the village head election (Pilkades). It also requires a clear vision for village development and a significant role in improving the welfare of the villagers. This is vastly different from how villages were previously managed.
Through Law No. 6 of 2014 on Villages and Ministerial Regulation on Village Development, Underdeveloped Regions, and Transmigration (Permendes PDTT) No. 13 of 2010, the importance of the village government’s role is emphasized in providing services and advancing the village, whether in terms of infrastructure or the community’s welfare.
In the past, villages were often placed as the lowest priority in development policies, receiving only a small share of resources to manage their own affairs. At that time, a village head mostly worked under instructions from higher authorities, focusing primarily on administrative matters and implementing directives from above.
This limited capacity meant village heads had little room to plan and design their village’s development. Moreover, the state’s strong hegemony (read: dominance of power) over its people became another problem. The top-down policy model that was practiced for many years often made village heads feel like the ultimate authority in their villages, leading to decisions being made without community consent. This model, however, can no longer be implemented.
Today, villages face stagnation in development because their leaders are often absent from the village itself, making them unable to fully grasp the actual conditions and needs of the community. A village head, in fact, plays a crucial role in development, such as:
1. Designing a vision for village development,
2. Managing village governance,
3. Improving the welfare of villagers, and
4. Empowering the community to ensure their happiness.
Unfortunately, some village heads still consider issues such as the economy and development in their villages as trivial, believing that these matters are entirely handled by the BUMDes (Village-Owned Enterprises).
Village economic development also involves various support systems that are not solely business-oriented. For example, building proper roads or infrastructure is vital for villages with potential in agriculture and fishing. Infrastructure such as irrigation systems is essential, and development programs need to follow a clear and measurable plan. A village head must prioritize such programs.
In the seven villages within the Joronga Archipelago Subdistrict—Liboba Hijrah, Yomen, Kurunga, Kukupang, Gonone, Pulau Gala, and Tawabi—the village heads have been deemed to have failed in leading and fulfilling their responsibilities. As a result, community trust has significantly declined.