COMMUNITY-OWNED GOVERNMENT AS A MEANS OF PROMOTING SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT

(Overview on Today’s Participation of Indonesian Communities towards Some Public Problems Solving)

By

Andy Al Fatih

Abstract

            Social development is one of the aspects of human life. It, therefore, should  successfully be promoted. Promoting social development is not only the responsibility of local government, but also other stake holders: communities, NGOs, and businesses. Communities achieve social development through community-owned government. The government identifies public problems and its strength, sets goals, and manages the works. Communities are capable for community-owned government because they dare, care, share, are fair, potential, and knowlegable. Community-owned government approach – for some reasons – is better than professional service. It does a lot and is better for social development. Hence, it is beneficial and very important. The spirit of community-owned government also exists in Indonesian communities. It is called gotong royong (community self help). Gotong royong roots from Indonesian ideology, Pancasila. So, Indonesians manage also community-owned government in their own way. They do gotong royong in several aspects of social life, such as neigbourhood security, donation for charity, and education. The problems in doing gotong royong are in the intensity (it is fluctuative and quite not well managed) and the extensity (the aspects covered). Communities among Indonesians need to be more encouraged and empowered to do gotong royong. The concerned parties give their own contributions. Local government creates conducive atmosphere – in terms of policies, programs, and competencies - for community-owned government. Communities give their ideas, attentions, energies, and management. NGOs support it in forms of advocacies and motivation. Businesses set their profit aside for financial support. The synergy can succeed community-owned government for social development at local level.

Abstract

            Social development is one of the aspects of human life. It, therefore, should  successfully be promoted. Promoting social development is not only the responsibility of local government, but also other stake holders: communities, NGOs, and businesses. Communities achieve social development through community-owned government. The government identifies public problems and its strength, sets goals, and manages the works. Communities are capable for community-owned government because they dare, care, share, are fair, potential, and knowlegable. Community-owned government approach – for some reasons – is better than professional service. It does a lot and is better for social development. Hence, it is beneficial and very important. The spirit of community-owned government also exists in Indonesian communities. It is called gotong royong (community self help). Gotong royong roots from Indonesian ideology, Pancasila. So, Indonesians manage also community-owned government in their own way. They do gotong royong in several aspects of social life, such as neigbourhood security, donation for charity, and education. The problems in doing gotong royong are in the intensity (it is fluctuative and quite not well managed) and the extensity (the aspects covered). Communities among Indonesians need to be more encouraged and empowered to do gotong royong. The concerned parties give their own contributions. Local government creates conducive atmosphere – in terms of policies, programs, and competencies - for community-owned government. Communities give their ideas, attentions, energies, and management. NGOs support it in forms of advocacies and motivation. Businesses set their profit aside for financial support. The synergy can succeed community-owned government for social development at local level.

Key words: local government, communities, NGOs, businesses, support, community-owned government, gotong royong, social development, success.