Dilema Implementasi Koperasi Desa Merah Putih: Antara Kewajiban Administratif dan Partisipasi Masyarakat di Desa Pakisputih

Abstract

The government mandates the establishment of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative (KDMP) as a pillar of the village economy and an administrative requirement for the disbursement of village funds. However, its implementation in Pakisputih Village faces a dilemma: despite having formal legality, including an act of establishment and an organizational structure, the cooperative has not been able to operate effectively. This study aims to identify the factors causing the operational stagnation of the KDMP and to analyze the level of community participation and understanding regarding it. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, data were collected through observation and informal interviews with village officials and various community groups during Student Community Service (KKN) activities. The results indicate that the primary cause of the cooperative's non-operation is a combination of two factors. First, the lack of a clear business direction, as many potential business units already exist and the savings and loan option was rejected due to the high risk of bad credit. Second, the low level of community understanding and participation, with residents tending to hold a negative perception of cooperatives, viewing them as synonymous with risky savings and loan businesses. The combination of these factors creates stagnation, reducing the cooperative to a mere fulfillment of administrative obligations without a real economic function. An in-depth study of local potential and continuous socialization are required to change public perception and optimize the cooperative's function.

Keyword: Microfinance, small and micro enpterprises, Poorest of the poor