Abstrak
The implementation of regional autonomy that is expected could improve and answer peoples demands. cannot ensure local participation, even many groups are losing their space. The village began disturbed by the policies and rules made by the Local Government which reduce the village autonomy. Therefore, it needs leader who can reinforce village autonomy and also still have to uphold the regional social cultural to empower its people. Taking locus at Sumbersari Village, Purworejo, this study aims to determine the role of village chief in the development of social welfare, especially in community empowerment, in accordance to the village autonomy. The study shown that the roles of village chief has not run optimally, mainly in open public participation in planning and decision making the affects quality of village policy. in addition, superior government intervention in the rural governance and development decreased quality of village autonomy.
