Complicated bureaucracy in regulations can lead to delays in decision-making, inefficient resource use, and decreased public trust in the government.
Therefore, bureaucratic reform is essential to improve governance that is effective, efficient, fair, and responsive to public needs.
Governor Regulation of Special Region of Yogyakarta Number 40 of 2023 on Village Reform is a visionary step forward in enhancing the capacity and quality of village governance.
To assess the effectiveness of this regulation’s implementation in the village, a UGM students’ team researched the bureaucratic reform implemented in Panggungharjo, Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta, making it a model for bureaucratic reform at the village level in the region.
Muh Faiq, Muhammad Imam Maulana, Fawwaza Masedha, Pramesthi Aura Nawang S, and Mahira Putu Ariandhini, who are part of the Student Creativity Program (PKM) team from the UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM), carried out the research under the guidance of lecturer Kafa Abdallah Kafaa.
With the title “Towards an Advanced Village: Measuring the Effectiveness of Bureaucratic Reform in Panggungharjo, Special Region of Yogyakarta,” Muh Faiq explained to reporters on Saturday, Jul. 20, 2024, that the purpose of this research is to provide a basis for consideration and evaluation of the Village Bureaucratic Reform implementation by the DIY government and serve as a reference for improving public service systems in other areas.
Muh Faiq explained that the research used a Descriptive Qualitative analysis approach with informants from officials, including the village head and staff and the Panggungharjo community.
According to him, the negative perception of government management makes the public reluctant to engage in development; therefore, bureaucratic reform is crucial to restoring public trust in the government.
“The village government, as an extension of the state, plays a central role in building local political democracy,” Faiq stated.
From the research findings, the team identified issues in village bureaucracy in Panggungharjo before the bureaucratic reform.
It includes the public’s mindset, power relations between the government and residents, suboptimal public services limited to administrative matters, and environmental issues.
Faiq acknowledged that the government had implemented various policies as part of the bureaucratic reform in Panggungharjo, including the establishment of village-owned enterprises in 2013, which played a significant role in waste management.
In 2017, the government established the Matraman Village unit to showcase the cultural diversity developed since the early 19th century through culture-based tourism services covering aspects of clothing, food, and housing.
In 2019, the government integrated the Waste Bank’s services with Gold Savings and introduced gold savings for workers in Matraman Village.
Moreover, the Panggungharjo Government has expanded public services, including administrative services and the provision of goods and services, as part of its bureaucratic reform efforts.
“This reform will bring significant changes to village development and the community’s welfare in Yogyakarta,” said Faiq.
Based on the research recommendations, Faiq stated that the government needs to commit to delivering public services by transforming various aspects of community life.
“This research serves as a consideration for future research, especially regarding the number and location of participants, age, education level, and occupation as subjects to be studied,” he concluded.
Author: Dita
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang