Government Science lecturers from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) of Riau University carried out community service activities with the theme of Siak Green District Policy Development through Green Village-Based Community Empowerment in Pusaka Hamlet and Benayah Hamlet, Pusako District, Siak Regency on 4-5 October 2024.
This community service is in line with the implementation of the Siak District Regional Regulation (Perda) Number 4 of 2022 concerning the Siak Green District. Each activity was attended by approximately 25 participants from the Village Government, Village Consultative Body, Village Community Organisations, Community Leaders and village facilitators in Benayah Village and Pusako Hamlet.
The ‘Green Siak District’ policy is an innovation of the Siak District Government in maintaining a balance between environmental protection and improving the economic welfare of the community through sustainable natural resource management through Ecology-Based Fiscal Transfers or TAKE for short. TAKE is the provision of incentives in the form of money from the District Government to the Village Government based on performance in environmental management (Siak Hijau).
This two-day community service activity raised different sub-themes in each village. Thursday, 4 October 2024, in Dusun Pusako Village, Pusako District, Siak Regency, strengthening was carried out with the subtheme ‘Institutionalising Waste Bank and Ecologically Based BUMKam’. The Head of the Community Service Team, Dr Auradian Marta, said that, ‘The purpose of this community service activity is to strengthen the role of the community in protecting the environment while encouraging a village-based local economy that is in line with the Green Siak District policy. With this collaborative approach, we hope to contribute to realising more independent and prosperous village communities and contribute to environmental conservation,’ he said.
Kerani Kampung Dusun Pusako, representing the Penghulu Kampung, Yudi Irawan, welcomed the programme and revealed, ‘In 2024, Pusako Hamlet managed to get TAKE incentive funds which we then allocated to strengthen the Fire Care Community (MPA) in the form of procuring equipment to support MPA activities. We welcome this Community Service activity which we hope can provide insights and opportunities for us to develop and improve the village's environmental performance index and become clear evidence that support for the environment and community empowerment that we do can go hand in hand.
In his presentation, Dr Auradian Marta also added the importance of innovation at the village level. ‘We hope that the institutionalisation of the Village Waste Bank and BUMKam business units based on ecology can help overcome waste problems in a sustainable manner, and on the other hand can improve the community's economy. This programme is in line with the goals of the Green Siak District which emphasises the balance between ecology and economy,’ he explained.
Penghulu Yudi Irawan closed the activity by thanking the service team. ‘We are greatly helped by this training. Our community is increasingly aware of the importance of protecting the environment while optimising village potential. With this programme, we believe Pusako Hamlet will become more independent and can meet the TAKE self-assessment indicators, thus becoming a sustainable green village,’ he said.
Community Service activities continued the next day on 5 October 2024 in Benayah Village, with the sub-theme of activities namely ‘Formation of Village Legal Products and Assistance in Preparing Ecological-Based Village Development Planning’. Dr Auradian Marta, Head of the Community Service Team explained that ‘The Siak Hijau District policy provides a strong framework for protecting the environment, but its successful implementation depends heavily on community participation. Therefore, Green Village-based empowerment is the key to effectively realising this policy through the formation of village legal products and village development planning,’ he said.
The Penghulu of Benayah Village, represented by Kerani, Mr Khairul, expressed his gratitude for the presence of the service team from Riau University, ‘We are very grateful for the strengthening provided, the opportunity to draft environment-based village regulations and enter into village development planning is a very meaningful input. New hope for us to fulfil the green village performance indicators and manage the village more sustainably,’ he said.
Through this Community Service activity integrated with the Riau University MBKM Kukerta, it is hoped that Pusako Hamlet and Benayah Village can develop a follow-up plan through an activity programme to meet the environmental performance index indicators and become a role model for other villages, especially in Pusako District, Siak Regency in implementing environmental policies that are integrated with village economic development.
MF-RF