{"id":3584,"date":"2026-07-30T06:29:34","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T06:29:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/estungkara.id\/?p=3584"},"modified":"2026-07-30T06:36:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T06:36:07","slug":"ketika-perempuan-cina-benteng-menentukan-prioritas-pembangunan-desa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/estungkara.id\/en\/ketika-perempuan-cina-benteng-menentukan-prioritas-pembangunan-desa\/","title":{"rendered":"When Benteng Chinese Women Determine Village Development Priorities"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Happy Octa Famelia, PPSW Jakarta<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For most residents, the Village Development Planning Meeting (Musrenbang) may simply be understood as the village government's annual agenda for formulating development plans. However, for the women of Belimbing Village, Kosambi District, Tangerang Regency, Musrenbang has a much broader meaning. This forum provides a space to ensure that their experiences, needs, and daily challenges are truly incorporated into the village development agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That's why, on July 21, 2026, twelve women from the Eternal Red Lantern Cooperative and the Women's Voice Forum gathered at the Belimbing Village Office. Facilitated by the Jakarta Women's Development Planning Board (PPSW), they came not simply to compile a wish list, but rather to discuss the most pressing issues affecting the lives of women, their families, and their communities before submitting their proposals to the Village Musrenbang (Village Development Planning Forum).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This forum is not a newly established space. Over the past few years, the Women's Voice Forum has become a platform for women in Belimbing Village to discuss, prioritize, and develop the courage to express their opinions in decision-making spaces. Every proposal submitted to the Musrenbang (Regional Development Planning Forum) always begins with a collaborative discussion to ensure it truly stems from women's needs, not simply following the village government's agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This change didn't happen overnight. Before the Women's Voice Forum and the cooperative were formed, women were almost never involved in the Musrenbang (Development Planning Meeting). Even when women did attend, the floor was mostly given to certain groups, while other women, particularly those from the Benteng Chinese ethnic group, barely had a chance to express their views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When PPSW Jakarta began assisting with the formation of cooperatives, the challenges were significant. The stigma against Benteng Chinese women remains strong. They are often viewed as a closed group, even deemed unnecessarily deprived of economic empowerment. When cooperative outreach was held at the Integrated Health Post (Posyandu), only one of the approximately 35 participants agreed to join. In addition to the stigma, the community also prefers borrowing from mobile banks, which are perceived as offering quick access despite the high interest rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the cooperative, the women gradually built trust, both among themselves and with the village government. They actively communicated with various parties, demonstrated the benefits of cooperatives for the community, and consistently attended various village forums. These efforts began to change the government's perception of them. While previously women's suggestions from outside the PKK group were rarely considered, now the Women's Voice Forum is invited to present the results of its discussions at the Musrenbang (Regional Development Planning Forum). Relationships that were once distant have transformed into partnerships. Village heads who previously tended to accommodate the suggestions of certain groups have now become members of the cooperative, opening up a broader space for dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, open participation does not automatically mean that all women's proposals are implemented. Several recommendations remain unacted by the village government. However, this situation no longer leads to silence. The head of the Eternal Red Lantern Cooperative, Ms. Chen Fie, consistently provides questions, input, and evaluations to the village government when community proposals have not been implemented. This courage demonstrates a significant shift: women are no longer simply present as Musrenbang participants, but are beginning to fulfill their roles as citizens who oversee development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this year's discussion, the facilitator opened the conversation with a simple question, "What is the most important thing to propose in the Belimbing Village Musrenbang?" The question immediately brought up the issues they had been facing.<\/p>\n\n\n

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