JATINANGOR – Senior cadets (Praja Utama) of the Institute of Home Affairs Governance (IPDN) are expected to become role models and dedicate their lives to service wherever they are posted in the future.

With 75,266 villages across Indonesia, these IPDN senior cadets are urged to actively contribute to boosting rural development, including through the establishment of assisted villages (Desa Binaan).

This message was conveyed by the Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, during a public lecture for senior cadets titled "Villages as Pillars of National Development: Governance Leadership Strategies in the Era of Transformation," held at Balairung Rudini, Jatinangor Campus, on Thursday (May 21, 2026).

"IPDN is a true ally of the Ministry. Therefore, I need to share this vision regarding villages with the senior cadets who will graduate soon," said Minister Yandri.

Minister Yandri highlighted that villages have now shifted to become active subjects of development, as explicitly outlined in President Prabowo Subianto's Asta Cita (Aspiration) focus: "Building from the Village and from the Bottom-Up for Economic Equality and Poverty Eradication."

To establish villages as pillars of national development, the Ministry requires extensive collaboration with various parties, including IPDN. The Ministry translates this rural development mission into 12 Strategic Action Plans, which include the revitalization of Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes), the establishment of the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (KDMP), downstreaming superior products, creating thematic villages, climate-resilient villages, and developing export villages.

"I hope IPDN senior cadets can fully understand these 12 strategic actions for rural development and comprehend the issues on the ground, as you will eventually return to serve in these regions," Minister Yandri remarked.

Minister Yandri further elaborated on the crucial role of the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives, which are envisioned as a prime engine for the rural economy. He described these cooperatives as the ultimate tool to achieve economic equality in line with the President's Asta Cita.

Consequently, he invited rural communities to participate actively in making the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives a success. He noted that if the cooperatives thrive, 80 percent of the business surplus (SHU) will return directly to the members—the village residents themselves. Meanwhile, the remaining 20 percent of the profits will be channeled into village-derived revenue (PADesa).

"One hundred percent of the profits from these village cooperatives, conceptualized by President Prabowo, goes entirely to the people in the village," Minister Yandri emphasized.

Furthermore, under the newly established Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IPDN and the Ministry, IPDN graduates are expected to manage assisted villages to accelerate the thematic village and export village programs. "As one of the points in the agreement, we hope to see IPDN alumni (Purna Praja) assigned to the Ministry of Villages every year," Minister Yandri added.

Minister Yandri remains optimistic that collaborating with IPDN will accelerate the realization of the 12 Strategic Action Plans to build villages and build Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the Rector of IPDN, Halilul Khairi, expressed his gratitude for Minister Yandri's visit and for providing invaluable guidance to the senior cadets. The briefing is deemed highly practical for the cadets who are about to complete their studies.

"The Minister's briefing is deeply important and enlightening because IPDN graduates will be deployed to regencies and sub-districts where they will interface directly with villages," Halilul said.

During the event, Minister Yandri was honored with the Kartika Asta Brata Utama award and pinned as an Honorary Alumnus of Civil Service Higher Education. The Minister also handed over institutional assistance to IPDN, received directly by Rector Halilul.

The public lecture was attended by IPDN Vice Rectors, lecturers, and staff. Accompanying Minister Yandri were Secretary-General Taufik Madjid, Director General of Village Economic Development and Investment Tabrani, Inspector General Masyhudi, Head of the Information Development Agency Mulyadin Malik, Special Staff Fahad Attamimi, and other senior officials from the Ministry.

Foto: Didi/Kemendes PDT 
Teks: Firman/Kemendes PDT