JAKARTA – The Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, has partnered with the National Leadership Board of the Professional Indonesian Advocates Association (DPN Peradiprof) to strengthen legal understanding among village heads and village officials. This step is considered vital, as a firm grasp of legal aspects serves as the primary foundation to ensure that policies and decisions at the village level do not result in legal issues in the future.

Minister Yandri emphasized that many village heads do not yet fully understand regulations, which potentially leads to unintentional errors.

In fact, village heads hold strategic roles in managing budgets, formulating policies, and resolving social issues within the community. Consequently, strengthening legal capacity has become an urgent necessity.

"We are defending village heads who truly do not know the regulations, not those who intentionally commit corruption. They have no intent to corrupt, but due to their lack of knowledge, their actions may not align with the rules; therefore, they need assistance. They must understand the law," Minister Yandri asserted during an audience with DPN Peradiprof at the Ministry's office in Jakarta, Monday (May 4, 2026).

The collaboration with Peradiprof will focus on educational programs, training, and legal assistance for village officials. This effort is expected to improve the quality of village governance, making it more transparent, accountable, and compliant with statutory provisions.

Furthermore, both parties expressed high hopes for delivering comprehensive legal assistance and education programs for village heads throughout Indonesia. With the support of professional advocates, village heads are believed to be better equipped to understand prevailing regulations, ranging from village fund management to the drafting of village ordinances.

Representatives of Peradiprof welcomed the initiative and stated their organization's readiness to be actively involved in providing legal literacy to village officials.

One of its founders, Fauzie Yusuf Hasibuan, noted that increasing legal capacity at the village level will have a direct impact on more transparent and accountable governance, as well as on Indonesia's overall development.

"Indonesia's strength lies in its villages. If the villages are not sound, the country will not be sound. That is why we are here; we want to cooperate and provide legal education," stated Fauzie Yusuf Hasibuan.

This move is also seen as a preventive measure to minimize potential legal violations that often occur due to a lack of regulatory understanding. With legally literate village heads, village development is expected to proceed more optimally, accurately, and in accordance with the prevailing laws and regulations.

Photo: Angga/Kemendes PDT 
Text: Ria/Kemendes PDT