Yogyakarta officials host book discussions to promote literacy and civic oversight

The Regional Library and Archives Office (DPAD) of Yogyakarta Special Region, in collaboration with the Yogyakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD DIY), has held a series of book discussion events aimed at boosting literacy and civic engagement.

In Yogyakarta City, a discussion for the book ‘Merakit Ayodya’ focused on the link between literacy and human resource quality. Author Nasrul Khoiri noted that Yogyakarta maintains the highest Human Development Index (HDI) in Indonesia, reaching 88.61 in 2023. Officials emphasized that fostering a reading culture can contribute to broader economic improvements.

In Bantul, a discussion for the book ‘1001 Tanya untuk Wakil Rakyat’ encouraged citizens to move beyond voting by actively monitoring their elected representatives and questioning budget usage. DPRD DIY member Danang Wahyu Broto highlighted that literacy is a critical tool for citizens to filter information and combat misinformation in the age of social media.