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The Assistant for Governance and People's Welfare for Badung Regency, I Nyoman Sujendra - 

Literacy in a global context is implemented with innovation and creativity in order to produce products that are competitive in the global market.

This was conveyed by the Assistant for Governance and People's Welfare for Badung Regency, I Nyoman Sujendra, during a talk show on Increasing the Community Literacy Index (PILM) for Welfare at the Giri Natha Mandala Cultural Building, Saturday (24/6/2023).

“The literacy indicator is different from the love of reading. That is, if we go deep into what we read and according to needs, then provide knowledge that can be implemented in practice for the collective interest," he said.

Nyoman also said that a passion for reading to improve literacy had become a priority target for the Badung government. If instilled early on, the habit of reading will have a broad impact on people's lives.

The head of the National Library, Muhammad Syarif Bando, confirmed that literacy is not only about reading and writing. High-power literacy is useful in winning global competition. Literacy is born with knowledge.

For example, Indonesia has abundant natural resources which can be of great value if the human resources have knowledge and skills that are continuously trained.

"Developed countries have the principle that with knowledge they can continue to develop, even without abundant natural resources. Therefore, they rely heavily on knowledge," he said.

Meanwhile, the Deputy for Library Resources, Adin Bondar, reinforced the fact that the tourism sector in Bali can explore its potential by constructing community literacy skills.

Adin believes that people with high literacy are able to solve various problems, such as reducing poverty, youth mortality, stunting, and improving the nation's economy.

"Libraries as an open space play a role in building knowledge-based behavior. The higher the level of literacy, the better the prosperity of a nation," he explained.

According to academician Ida Bagus Purwa Sidemen, literacy is closely related to culture. The majority of Balinese people who are Hindus consider nature as the center of knowledge and humans as the center of the universe that must be properly looked after.

As a literacy activist, Mumtazah Mardiliyah reminded that apart from culture, history is also needed to know identity as it is in the Bangsal Perjuangan Monument.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Saturday, the Badung Regency Library so far has provided mobile library services, and Pustaka Gita (a social media platform for accessing e-books and building a reader network/community).

Other support provided included training in making spices, making Tabya Tuh chili sauce (Balinese chili powder), and make-up.

The PILM activity was coupled with the inauguration of the Pusaka (Nusantara Manuscript Center) for Mangutama Literature, the inauguration of Student Literacy Ambassadors for Elementary and Middle School Levels, and awards to districts with high levels of reading interest//VOI