Village Development Policy and Community Welfare in the Framework of National Development

Abstract

Village development is a fundamental foundation in realizing inclusive and sustainable national development. Villages serve as the basis of food security, centers of local economic growth, buffers of urban economies, as well as preservers of culture and local wisdom. However, the village–city gap, limited infrastructure, weak human resources, and obstacles in village government administration remain major challenges. Law Number 6 of 2014 concerning Villages grants authority for villages to regulate and manage the interests of their communities, including development, governance, and empowerment. In practice, the implementation of village policies is inseparable from the support of the central government through village fund allocation, regulatory guidance, and synergy with national development. This study applies a normative juridical method to analyze the relationship between government policy and village development. The findings indicate that the success of village development is largely determined by the consistency of policy, the capacity of village apparatus, and the active participation of the community in managing local potential to enhance shared welfare.