Development Communication and Village Self-Dependence


A Case Study on the Usage of ‘Village Portal’ and ‘Village-Partnership System’ to Establish Village Self-Dependence in the Village-to-Develop Movement (Gerakan Desa Membangun) at Banyumas Regency of Central Java Province in 2011-2012

Abstract

The village development program has so far tended to position village as an object. The Village-to-Develop Movement (Gerakan Desa Membangun/GDM) strengthens village to become the subject of development. Being a subject, village will be self-dependence. One of the strategies in establishing the village self-dependence is using new media. This study reviewed how the development communication creates the village self-dependence by utilizing new media such as Village Partnership System (Sistem Mitra Desa) and ‘Village Portal’  in the Village-to-Develop Movement (Gerakan Desa Membangun). By virtue of a study case method, this study tried to describe clearly the contemporary, unique phenomenon taking place in this movement.

A big question arises in this research is how development communication creates the village self-dependence by utilizing ‘Village Portal’ and Village Partnership System in the Village-to-Develop Movement (Gerakan Desa Membangun) at Banyumas Regency. The Village-to-Develop Movement (Gerakan Desa Membangun/GDM) is a common initiative involving multi-parties for a purpose of strengthening the capacity of village management and the competency of villagers to establish development initiative. The GDM has also a purpose of establishing village cooperation and relationship for a mutual support in the village development. This movement emerged as a criticism against the practice of village development tending to be top-down rather than bottom up. Village has so far been the object of development rather than being the subject. The Village-to-Develop Movement intends to demonstrate that village is able to be the subject of development.

In achieving such purpose, the Village-to-Develop Movement utilizes Information and Communication technology, particularly new media. This movement has chosen to use an ‘open source’ technology as the basis of developing various applications. The BlankOn Operation System becomes the used choice. It also develops the Village Partnership System to promote the population data at village and ‘Village Portal’ as the channel of any village information to the outside world.

From the general results of this study, it can be seen how development communication has created the village self-dependence. In view of the self-dependence principle, technology is positioned as an enabler controlled by the users, not vice versa. By considering the self-dependence principle, communication runs in a participatory way. Supported by the improving spirit of village autonomy, as a strategy, practice and use of technology, development communication can produce village-self dependence.

The results achieved by the Village-to-Develop Movement are an evidence of village capacity in developing good governance and managing information. By the good governance, information can be continually produced, distributed and managed to improve the village bargaining power before any stakeholders. This indicates a great opportunity to render more power to the village. The local governing policy is properly required to legalize this movement. Village is an autonomous entity having the power to develop itself. It is proper that the village government renders more authority to the village to develop itself.

 

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About Lisa Lindawati

My Academic Career was started in 2010 when worked as a research assistant at the Department of Communication, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Since 2014, have been working as a full time lecturer at the same institution. Particularly interested in media and communication studies with area of specialization in online journalism, community relations, developmental issues, and civil society empowerment.