Indonesian Status A number of factors have pushed policy makers and stakeholders to reassess the role of the kecamatan level. The change of the Camat from the main figure in the kecamatan (responsible to the President) to an extension of the district/city (perangkat daerah) reduced the role of the Camat, but not the expectations of the public who did not update their perceptual scheme. Demands on the Camat increased, even as his authority decreased as s/he lost the supervisory and guiding role traditionally played. A recent study by researchers from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture, supported by USAID DRSP, indicates that most kecamatans now are reduced to making recommendations to the district/city, largely on civil registry procedures. This same study suggests that the Camat/kecamatan should take up a strong role in spatial planning, coordinating both government units and NGOs; providing key service, resolving conflicts, and serving as an information clearing house.24 The preliminary findings of the mentioned study suggests that an enhanced role may be possible within the current construction, where the Camat is an extension of the district/city. However, there are concerns that this construction should not:25 -
lead to uniformity; urban regions should be able to reduce or eliminate kecamatans – rural districts should be able to increase their number and strengthen them; prevent the fit of kecamatan structures with traditional structures in those regions where a blend is desired.
Whatever the standing of the kecamatan, there is fairly broad consensus that it must be better utilized, particularly in the provision of services.26 The possibilities for pushing delivery down to this level are shown by the one stop service innovation that reaches down to the kecamatan in Aceh Besar and Aceh Barat,27 where several types of permits can be issued, e.g., for business location and trading. Some districts have taken steps to formally delegate tasks to the kecamatan. However, the formulation is often in terms of “coordination” or “recommendation”; it is not clear in these cases how much authority the Camat/kecamatan has, particularly in terms of initiating and directing service provision.28 If the current construction is to be maintained, the challenge for national level policy makers is to determine how districts/cities can be lead to explore various arrangements and delegate significant services and other tasks to the kecamatan. One alternative, a more centralistic approach, is to assign tasks to the kecamatan level directly through central government
24
PSPPP, Lembaga Penelitian dan Pemberdayaan masyarakat (2007). Temuan sementara studi tentang Kecamatan, Oktober, USAID-DRSP. 25 PSP3-IPB (2007). Posisi Institusi Kecamatan dalam Tata-Pemerintahan Daerah Sekarang dan Ke Depan (Isyu Kritikal dan Pelajaran dari Lima Kabupaten Studi). 26 See for instance the notes from the Tim Revisi UU 32/2004 on the role of the kecamatan and village, October 2007. 27 AIPRD-LOGICA (2007). Panduan Pelayanan Satu Pintu – Inovasi Pelayanan Administrasi di Kecamatan, AusAID. 28 Peraturan Bupati Karangasem Nomor 30 Tahun 2004 Tentang Uraian Tugas Kecamatan Kabupaten Karangasem; Peraturan Bupati Karangasem Nomor 28 Tahun 2005 Tentang Pelimpahan Sebagian Wewenang Bupati Kepada Camat Untuk Menangani Sebagian Urusan Otonomi Daerah Kabupaten Karangasem. Final Report – Exploring Reform Options for Functional Assignment
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