Understanding Independent Villages: Pillars Towards a Sustainable Society

Have you come across the term "independent village" in discussions about Indonesia's development? It is a phrase that has been appearing with increasing frequency, particularly in conversations about community well-being, local economic self-reliance, and sustainable development. Naturally, many people wonder: Is an independent village a genuine, fully realized concept or simply an ideal?

The answer is that this concept is very much a reality. Many regions across Indonesia have already begun adopting self-reliant development approaches through local innovation, digitalization, and support from both the government and the private sector, including Astra.

This article explores what an independent village is and why the concept matters so profoundly for Indonesia's future.

ALSO READ: Desa Sejahtera Astra & Kampung Berseri Astra: Astra's CSR in Action

What Is an Independent Village?

Put simply, an independent village can meet its own social, economic, and environmental needs without heavy reliance on external assistance.

In practice, such a village can manage its local resources, adopt technology, and empower its community members to achieve shared prosperity.

In general, a village that qualifies as independent meets the following indicators:

• Good access to education and healthcare
• Productive MSMEs and agricultural sectors
• Independently managed energy and water systems
• Digitally literate community members
• A well-preserved local ecosystem.

Such a village does more than just survive. It transforms into a modern, eco-friendly, and highly capable economic hub.

Characteristics of an Independent Village

A village can be classified as independent when it demonstrates the following elements:

• Economic Independence: Local businesses that build on their unique strengths are thriving. These include modern agriculture, MSMEs, village tourism, crafts, renewable energy, and eco-businesses
• Social Independence: Community members support one another and have access to adequate healthcare, education, and public services.
• Environmental Independence: Natural resources are managed sustainably through waste management, water conservation, and green energy use.
  
  

Strategies for Building an Independent Village

Any discussion of independent village programs must include the strategies needed to make them work effectively.

One of the primary goals of village development is to establish independent villages that are socially, economically, and environmentally resilient. To measure this progress, the government uses the Village Development Index (Indeks Desa Membangun / IDM), which is assessed across three categories:

1. Social Resilience Index (IKS): Reflects the community's education, health, and social conditions.

2. Economic Resilience Index (IKE): Assesses the availability of and community access to economic resources.

3. Environmental and Ecological Resilience Index (IKL): Measures the village's capacity to preserve its environment and natural resources.

Based on these three assessment categories, the Ministry of Villages' IDM framework classifies a village as independent when it achieves the highest IDM score, reflecting exceptional social, economic, and environmental resilience.

This approach reinforces a key principle: a village that aspires to develop cannot focus solely on economic growth. It must also attend to social dimensions, environmental sustainability, and local values.

The IDM, as an outcome of Village Law implementation, also encompasses how village funds and the role of village facilitators are utilized to strengthen resilience across all three dimensions.

Desa Sejahtera Astra and Kampung Berseri Astra: Astra's Role in Advancing Independent Villages

As part of its sustainability commitment, Astra runs several programs that support the realization of independent villages across Indonesia. Two of the most prominent are Desa Sejahtera Astra (DSA) and Kampung Berseri Astra (KBA).

Desa Sejahtera Astra (DSA) is a program focused on entrepreneurship empowerment built around each village's unique potential and flagship products. Launched in 2018, the program brings together a broad range of stakeholders, including central and regional governments, universities, communities, start-ups, and Village Business Groups (KUD).

The program drives the development of flagship products from Astra-mentored villages across three main clusters:

• Agriculture and processed agricultural products
• Marine and fisheries
• Tourism, craft, and culture

Kampung Berseri Astra (KBA), meanwhile, is a community-based program that integrates initiatives from Astra's four sustainable social contribution pillars within a single community. Its primary goal is to create clean, healthy, smart, and productive living environments.

Beyond that, KBA also strengthens community capacity for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

ALSO READ: Astra Entrepreneurship Program, Community Empowerment Innovation

Building Independent Villages Through Astra's Flagship Sustainable Programs

It is now clear that an independent village is a vital pillar in building Indonesia's future. By optimizing local potential and driving innovation within a sustainable environment, villages can evolve into thriving economic and social centers.

Flagship programs such as Desa Sejahtera Astra and Kampung Berseri Astra demonstrate that the journey toward village independence is not a distant aspiration. It is an active, ongoing process already delivering remarkable impact for communities across the country.

Explore Astra's official reports and other programs through the Astra Sustainability Report.