Village fund misappropriation is on the rise. According to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), 851 cases involving 973 perpetrators, half of whom were village heads, have occurred since 2015.
Funds meant to empower rural communities and improve livelihoods are instead being diverted to personal and group interests.
Over the past decade, the village fund program has disbursed approximately IDR 610 trillion.
This year alone, IDR 71 trillion has been allocated to 75,259 villages.
In response to this issue, Professor Bambang Hudayana, who specializes in anthropology and heads the Center for Rural and Regional Studies (PSPK UGM), expressed concern over the rampant misuse of village funds.
He noted that the KPK, police, and prosecutors cannot realistically oversee the use of funds in over 70,000 villages across Indonesia without exhausting significant resources.
Therefore, Professor Hudayana emphasized the importance of public participation in tackling this issue.
“The community should not merely be the object of development but also active participants in every phase of village development projects,” he said on Tuesday, Apr. 8, 2025.
He stated that reports from the public are crucial in exposing violations and should be filed with the police or prosecutors for legal processing.
“Law enforcement often relies on community reports to uncover corruption,” he explained.
Public involvement should also span the entire process, from planning and project implementation to fund utilization.
“If the community takes part in all these stages, corruption can be curbed,” he added.
Equally important is educating the public so they are involved and understand development priorities that match their needs and available resources.
He pointed out that many current projects are overly focused on physical infrastructure, whereas programs like strengthening village business groups are often needed.
“Projects now tend to be physical, but economic development and community empowerment are still lacking,” he said.
Professor Hudayana stressed the need for village governments to uphold good governance through accountability, transparency, and participation in managing village funds.
He also highlighted the role of social and political participation.
With robust social participation, the people hold village heads accountable, meaning the community’s needs guide development programs.
“When citizens are politically empowered, they are more likely to report issues because their rights are protected,” he concluded.
Professor Hudayana reminds the public to keep a close watch on village officials.
He said transparency is a deterrent, as corrupt individuals may fear public shame and social sanctions.
Unfortunately, Indonesian society tends to be overly trusting, forgiving, and even justifying the actions of wrongdoers.
Many people feel uneasy about monitoring those they perceive as “good,” even though temptations are always present.
Nevertheless, he urged continued vigilance, proper law enforcement, and the cultivation of strong moral standards.
Additionally, he called for the recruitment of competent and morally upright village officials.
“This isn’t just about being good or bad. According to opportunity structure theory, if people are left unchecked, temptation will arise; it’s a rule. Even good people can be tempted,” he said.
Author: Leony
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Image: Freepik
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna