PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - Cisaranten Wetan Subdistrict in Bandung City has formed a Loan shark Free Village (KBR) team since January 2024. This step was taken to overcome the problem of loan sharks aka bank emok which is troubling in the area

"This initiative was carried out as our effort to build communication with the community and socialize healthier financial settlement alternatives, such as collaborating with local cooperatives and MSME training," said Cisaranten Wetan Village Head, Muslim Nurdin in Cisaranten Wetan Village, Bandung City, Wednesday (24/ 4/2024).

This sub-district succeeded in forming an accompanying team of 40 people to implement the Loan-Free Village (KBR) initiative.

The KBR Cisaranten Wetan team actively coordinates with the Department of Cooperatives and SMEs (Diskopukm) and other related agencies.

Muslim Nurdin said that this KBR initiative was to build good communication in managing finances so that they were not trapped by loan sharks and online loans (pinjol).

Concrete steps are also taken through holding training to improve community skills in entrepreneurship, such as producing peanuts or recycling plastic waste into carpets.

"Through education and outreach carried out since 2023, results have been seen with the resolution of several cases related to loan shark practices in this area," explained Muslim.

Nevertheless, Muslims admit that they face a number of obstacles. One of the difficulties faced is the identification of immigrants who are contracting in the area but claim to be permanent residents.

"This often becomes a loophole for loan shark practices to continue operating,"

He said, with strong enthusiasm and collaboration between the Bandung City Regional Government, Diskopukm, the community and other stakeholders, Cisaranten Wetan Village is determined to make this area free from loan shark practices by 2029.

"We will continue to be committed to providing education and training to the community, as well as carrying out strict supervision to create the Moneylender-Free Village that we dream of," concluded Muslim.

Cisaranten Wetan Subdistrict has 29 RTs and 7 RWs with a population of 5,525 people (Diskominfo Bandung City/Revo)