Fajarasia.id – Young activist from Padanglawas Utara (Paluta), Marahalim Siregar, has called on law enforcement agencies, including the prosecutor’s office and the police, to thoroughly investigate the use of village funds across the district. He alleged that nearly all village heads in Paluta are implicated in corrupt practices, pointing to the lack of visible development despite billions of rupiah flowing into villages.
“Just imagine, apart from the Village Fund from the state budget (APBN), villages also receive the Village Fund Allocation (ADD), revenue-sharing from local taxes and levies, Village Original Income (PADes), financial assistance from provincial and district governments, grants, and contributions from third parties. Yet, where is the real progress in Paluta’s villages?” Marahalim questioned.
Sources of Village Revenue
Marahalim outlined the multiple streams of income available to villages beyond the central government’s Village Fund:
- Village Fund Allocation (ADD): sourced from district/city budgets (APBD) to support governance and development.
- Revenue Sharing from Local Taxes and Levies: distributed by local governments to villages.
- Village Original Income (PADes): generated from village-owned enterprises (BUMDes), communal land, and local markets.
- Financial Assistance from Provinces/Districts: provided under regional policies for specific development programs.
- Grants and Third-Party Contributions: non-binding funds from institutions or individuals.
- Other Legitimate Income: such as partnerships with private entities or utilization of natural resources.
He stressed that all these funding sources are regulated under Minister of Home Affairs Regulation No. 20 of 2018 on Village Financial Management. Marahalim added that Village Funds from the APBN differ from ADD sourced from APBD, and optimizing BUMDes should be a strategy to strengthen fiscal independence at the village level.
Allegations of Collusion
Marahalim further accused law enforcement of turning a blind eye to suspected irregularities. “If prosecutors and police remain silent, I suspect they are also receiving hush money. In plain terms, it’s collusion,” he asserted.
He urged authorities to act decisively so that village funds are truly used for community welfare and development, rather than becoming a source of corruption that harms ordinary citizens.****
