TASIKMALAYA (November 21, 2020) - The Ministry of Social Affairs provided assistance of IDR 150 million to two villages in Cipatujah District, Tasikmalaya Regency, West Java, Saturday (21/11).

The Director of Social Protection for Victims of Social Disasters (PSKBS), Sunarti, explained that the assistance was channeled to build water channels and form the Social Harmony Forum (FKS) which often causes conflict between residents in Nagrog Village and Cikawungading Village.

"The aid is used by each village to prepare waterways. There are 263 meters of water canals for 53 hectares of rice fields in Nagrog Village and 250 meters of water canals for 15 hectares of rice fields in Cikawungading Village," explained Sunarti after the II Social Harmony Thematic Dialogue in Cipatujah.

Sunarti hopes that the long-standing social conflict between the two villages can be resolved with the construction of the water canal. For this reason, the people of the two villages are expected to be able to care for and maintain the water canals that have been built together.

"We hope that this can be treated properly so that there will be no more conflict," added Sunarti.

In addition to building waterways, said Sunarti, the assistance was also used to help create Guna Bakti FKS in Nagrog Village and Maju Jaya in Cikawungading Village, Cipatujah District, Tasikmalaya Regency.

"With the creation of these two social harmony forums, we hope that all existing problems can be resolved amicably," hoped Sunarti.

The Social Harmony assistance program from the Ministry of Social Affairs is provided as a stimulant for the community to increase mutual cooperation awareness which is currently being eroded by the times.

To that end, the Ministry of Social Affairs held a thematic dialogue with the people of the two border villages. In addition, Sunarti also inaugurated the results of the FKS activity in the form of a Social Monument marked by cutting ribbons and distributing 3000 masks to support the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 in the community.

"It is certain that with the inauguration of the Social Harmony Monument, the people in these two villages can be confident and will remain at peace and prevent social conflict," continued Sunarti.

The arrival of the PSKBS Director, who was accompanied by the West Java Provincial Social Service, as well as the Social Service for Community and Village Empowerment, Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PMDP3A) of Tasikmalaya Regency, was greeted with a local traditional ceremony.

The Head of the Tagana Communication Forum (FK) in Tasikmalaya Regency, Jembar Adisetya, explained that Peace Pioneers (TPP) are volunteers from community elements who serve as community assistants in areas prone to social conflict to reduce conflicts early on so that conflicts do not occur prolonged.

"Currently TPP members are still very minimal compared to the area of Tasikmalaya Regency which reaches 39 sub-districts," explained Jembar.

"From 2012 in the district. In Tasikmalaya, approximately 21 villages have received assistance for social harmony assistance and thank God the results are very positive, they can benefit the local community and can reduce and even stop social conflicts that arise in the community," he concluded.