Yogyakarta, 23 April 2019–Along with the Ministry of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions And Transmigration Affairs (PDTT) and the Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA), the Center for Digital Society (CfDS) held a book launch entitled “Desa Cerdas: Transformasi Kebijakan dan Pembangunan Desa Merespon Era Revolusi Industry 4.0” (Smart Villages: The Transformation of Policies and Village Development to Respond the Industry 4.0).
This book launch was held on Tuesday (23/4) in the Mandiri Auditorium at the 4th floor of the Fisipol UGM building and featured four innovative figures. An opening speech by the Dean of Fisipol UGM, Erwan Agus Purwanto, opened this event. To him, the Internet of things reflects a technological transformation. In this matter, villages cannot be left behind. The emergence of smart villages showcases the success of such transformation.
Anwar Sanusi, the Secretary-General of the PDDT, which is also an alumnus of Fisipol batch 1988, stated that “since Rule Number 6 2014 was enacted, a significant change has occurred. Previously, villages were associated with underdevelopment that will only lead to urbanization. But today, villages can grow and be productive as well.”
The headman of Ponggok Village, Junaedi Mulyono, is known as the initiator of village tourism. “We accept new aspirations and ideas to develop our village. Thus, upon graduation, our youth will return to our village, instead of migrating to urban areas,” he conveyed. Junaedi has succeeded in maximizing the tourism potentials in Ponggok village, one of them is the Umbul Ponggok waterpark.
Bahrun Wardoyo, the headman of Dlinggo village during the 2012-2016 period, stated that Dlinggo village was the most underdeveloped village in Bantul. However, he changed this by using the Geographic Information System in developing his village. Bahrun also wished that students will contribute more for the development of villages, particularly to those which are located outside Java.
From the academic perspective, Arie Sudjito, lecturer from the Department of Sociology, stated that village tourism 4.0 has two meanings; as an instrument and the realization of ideas. He appreciated the launch of this book. This book launch was inaugurated by the contributors and this book will be the manual for the development of almost 72,000 villages in Indonesia. The e-book version is available for free at: http://literasidigital.id/books/buku-desa-cerdas/