Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Puan Maharani, has asked students of Universitas Gadjah Mada who will go on KKN-PPM UGM (Student Community Service – Community Empowerment) programme to monitor and evaluate the village funding programme whether the village has made use of the funds or not. In 2016, the government allocated no less than 40 trillions rupiah for such funding. This huge amount of money will not be useful, if the people do not use them for village development, Minister Puan said to students during the dispatch ceremony of KKN-PPM UGM on Monday (20/6) at Ghra Sabha Pramana UGM.
Puan hoped the KKN UGM would become the media for learning, gaining experience, sharing knowledge, educating people, and working to develop the village. The students can also become the pioneers for the mental revolution movement launched by President Joko Widodo to build ways of thinking, working and living.
“KKN PPM is the embodiment of care towards the people in the outermost and isolated places of Indonesia. Hopefully, the students can do their duty well, keep fit, and respect the local wisdom,” said the Minister.
She pointed out the demography bonus enjoyed by Indonesia since 2012 that showed as high as 67% population are of productive age with a quarter of total population comprises the youth. The young people, therefore, have a great role in advancing the nation. Going forward, the government is trying to accelerate HR quality improvement through higher learning, vocational schools, and polytechniques.
“It’s only a fraction of the young people that can enjoy higher learning education, especially at UGM. So, get yourselves prepared, equip yourselves with things necessary to carry out the mandate of leading the country into the future,” said Minister Puan Maharani.
The dispatch of 5,813 UGM students was also witnessed by Central Java Governor as well as Chairman of UGM Alumni Association, Ganjar Pranowo, and Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Dwikorita Karnawati, M.Sc., Ph.D, as well as other university leadership.