Village cooperatives part of efforts for economic equity: PCO

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Red and White Village Cooperatives are instrumental in attaining President Prabowo Subianto's Asta Cita goals, particularly in realizing economic independence and equity, according to a Presidential Communication Office (PCO) official.

PCO expert staff member Fithra Faisal explained in Jakarta on Tuesday that the village cooperatives will serve as engines for inclusive economic growth by fostering active community participation from the grassroots level.

He further noted that the cooperatives also embody the "development as freedom" concept introduced by economist and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen.

This concept highlights that true development involves expanding individuals' real freedoms.

Thus, Faisal stated that communities will gain more freedom to engage in development, which shifts from a top-down to a bottom-up approach.

He stated that the president intends for village cooperatives to ensure greater community participation at the grassroots level. These cooperatives are expected to boost village economies and improve the quality of life, particularly for farmers and fishers.

Besides cutting out middlemen who lower farmers' incomes, he noted that the Red and White Village Cooperatives can create new jobs in villages, offering local youth job opportunities without having to move to urban areas.

Faisal explained that if each cooperative is managed by six people, with around 80 thousand village cooperatives established, the number of jobs created can reach around 480 thousand.

President Prabowo Subianto officially launched around 80 thousand village cooperatives established nationwide under the Red and White Village Cooperatives program in Klaten, Central Java, on Monday.

The cooperatives are envisaged as hubs of economic and social services in village communities, offering savings, loans, and clinic services, among others.