Public RelationsUPNVJ - The Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (FITRA) in collaboration with the Political Science Study Program at the Jakarta Veteran National Development University (UPNVJ) for the second time held the Budget Literacy Forum (BLF) public activity at the FK Auditorium, UPNVJ Wahidin Building, on Saturday (16/12 /23).
This activity has the main focus of educating and campaigning on public budgeting issues in various development sectors to the community, especially young people, vulnerable people, people with disabilities.
"The aim of this agenda is to reflect on the condition of the state budget, especially in the environmental sector (green budgeting), sexual violence, and the strategic role of young people in the current democratic system, discussing the strategies that have been implemented by Pentahelix stakeholders. Apart from that, we also formulate recommendations for sustainable policies, especially on environmental budgets, empowering youth, vulnerable people (women, poor, disabled) and gathering public support as a form of policy advocacy on the 2023 & 2024 FY APBN and encouraging constructive dialogue with the public for the formulation of fiscal policy in the future," said Danis Tri Saputra Wahidin, Lecturer at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, UPNVJ, who was also a speaker at the BLF.
In this agenda, BLF discussed the Election Budget & the Realization of Democracy, apart from discussing the Evaluation of the Budget for Sexual Violence & Inclusivity in Higher Education as well as a Portrait of the Green Budget & the Role of Young People.
On this year's occasion, BLF will raise the theme of a "GOOD" Green Budget. What is meant by "GOOD" is Fair, Accountable, Inclusive and Credible.
A more in-depth discussion regarding this theme will be directed by taking examples of current and emerging issues, namely; issues in the education sector for young people, the new and renewable energy sector, election and democracy issues, as well as the issue of sexual violence, especially in higher education.
In this context, FITRA reflects on the need for a more comprehensive and cooperative discourse on these various issues. Because, even though the Indonesian government has allocated a significant budget for various sectors, there are still imperfections in budget allocation, utilization and impact.
Community participation in budget management and monitoring is very necessary. This is done of course to increase accountability in budget use and transparency in decision making regarding budget allocation in the environmental sector.
On environmental sector issues, FITRA focuses on an approach called green budgeting. An important approach that can help achieve sustainable development and promote environmental sustainability, while taking into account economic and social needs.
Green budgeting is a budgeting concept that considers environmental factors in making decisions regarding government expenditure and revenues.
Green budgeting can also help strengthen transparency and accountability in public financial management, by ensuring that the government provides clear reports on how public funds are used to support sustainability and environmental protection.
To ensure improvements in budget governance, the organizers hope for active public participation which can be realized by conducting a joint campaign. The participation of young people, especially students, in this era occupies a very strategic position in public policy.
It is stated that more than 60% of Indonesia's population is dominated by those of productive age (Source: MPR.go, 2023). Therefore, in order to increase public awareness and understanding, especially young people, it is necessary to provide a more open and participatory space.
Apart from that, the involvement of other public elements needs to be elaborated as a form of shared vision and mission. From that, we also want to create the same breath of struggle by presenting historians, cultural figures, artists from among students and the general public who of course play a big role in nation building.
This discussion has the main aim of gathering public support, especially young people, as a form of policy advocacy for the implementation of development and budgeting as well as encouraging constructive dialogue with the public for future policy formulation.