The effectiveness analysis of grant scheme 'POKMAS' toward village community empowerment: A case study on Siak Regency of Riau province

Siak Regency of Riau province has a grant program which is fully giving the rural authority in developing the villages (POKMAS). Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to review the impact of POKMAS toward the village community empowerment and the obstacle factors. Based on the combination of cluster analysis and root cause analysis, POKMAS program is proven to have the implication toward the village community empowerment which are: 1) an increase in income, especially for the poor; 2) the village communities are able to establish the rural development; 3) the village communities are able to perform the responsibility. Meanwhile, the program still leaves some issues including: 1) low community motivation; 2) low participation of the poor and the women; 3) vested interest; 4) the limited ability of the administration. Thus, this program is expected to be a proliferation model of empowerment based on rural authority.