Building the Independence of Villages in Bandung Regency, Indonesia

Village has a vital role in the national development efforts. The concept of development
considered village as an object instead of a subject of development. This study focused on
determining the important points in enabling a village to be independent by shifting the paradigm
of “building the village” into “the building village”. This study was an exploratory research of
public policies with qualitative legal studies. This study was conducted in 3 villages in Bandung
regency with different characteristics, namely Neglawangi with urban characteristics, Cibiru Wetan
with sub-urban characteristics, and Rancamanyar with plural characteristics. The results of this
study showed that the wise step in building an independent village is through “the building village”
road maps. First, encourage the inception of critical and care community and community
organizations who dynamically interact in the policy making processes of village development.
Second, implement a participative, accountable, and transparent planning and budgeting system
within the limits of their authorities. Third, empower inclusive village economic institutions. The
three road maps can succeed if they are supported by good implementation of participative,
systematic, effective and efficient planning and budgeting system, as well as good monitoring.
Keywords: village independence; village; building the village; sustainability; regional analysis;
region; rural development; governance; government.