Enviro News Asia, Central Java — The Ministry of Environment and Forestry through the Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH), in collaboration with the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions, initiated a simultaneous village-based clean-up campaign targeting houses of worship across Central Java on January 10, 2026.
The initiative, known as Bhakti Desa: Clean Houses of Worship, was implemented in all villages across the province and forms part of the national commemoration of Village Day 2026, which will culminate on January 15, 2026. The program aims to strengthen environmental awareness at the village level while promoting collective responsibility for waste management and public hygiene.
Director of Waste Reduction and Circular Economy Development at KLH/BPLH, Agus Rusli, stated that the action represents a concrete effort to foster environmentally responsible behavior directly from the source. He emphasized that houses of worship serve as central public spaces within villages and play a strategic role in shaping social values and community practices.
The clean-up activities involved village residents, volunteers, religious leaders, and village facilitators across 29 regencies and cities in Central Java. The campaign covered various houses of worship, including mosques, churches, temples, and monasteries, reflecting interfaith tolerance and the spirit of mutual cooperation.
Meanwhile, Head of the Agency for Village and Disadvantaged Regions Development and Information at the Ministry of Villages, Mulyadin Malik, highlighted that the Bhakti Desa initiative embodies core village values such as solidarity, tolerance, and social care. He expressed hope that the program would strengthen community cohesion while increasing environmental awareness among rural residents.
Beyond physical cleaning activities, the initiative also serves as a platform to enhance cross-sector collaboration among central and local governments, village administrations, businesses, and local communities. The program supports national priorities on waste reduction and environmental pollution control.
KLH/BPLH reaffirmed its commitment to advancing village-based environmental programs and encouraging sustainable behavior in line with the Village Day theme of strengthening villages to support environmental sustainability and long-term national development. (*)
