President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita vision includes the establishment of Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih) in order to achieve genuine independence through economic self-reliance and fair development. According to Fithra Faisal, a Senior Expert at the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) in Jakarta, the President’s programs align with the Asta Cita principle of starting from the villages and grassroots to promote economic equality and eradicate poverty.
At the launch of over 80,000 Kopdes Merah Putih cooperatives in Bentangan Village, Wonosari District, Klaten Regency, Central Java, President Prabowo emphasized that true independence goes beyond national symbols and must also improve the well-being of the people. These cooperatives are seen as a collective effort to enhance the lives of all individuals in society.
The Kopdes Merah Putih cooperatives are designed to drive inclusive economic growth by empowering communities at the grassroots level. They embody the concept of development as freedom, inspired by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, which focuses on eliminating “unfreedoms” like poverty, hunger, and limited political participation while expanding human capabilities. This approach ensures that communities have the freedom to actively engage in the development process, making it inclusive and liberating.
President Prabowo aims to strengthen grassroots participation through the Kopdes Merah Putih cooperatives to boost rural economies and improve the quality of life, especially for farmers and fishers. These cooperatives offer solutions to issues such as low exchange values for agricultural products by providing storage facilities, logistics support, and reducing dependency on middlemen. In addition, the cooperatives are expected to create new job opportunities in rural areas, reducing youth migration to urban centers and stimulating local economies.
By establishing Kopdes Merah Putih cooperatives, young people can contribute to building a better future in their villages, creating new economic prospects and opportunities within their communities.
