LABUHANBATU SELATAN | INDATANEWS.COM ~ The Labuhanbatu Selatan Regency Government officially launched the "Desa Cinta Statistik" (Desa Cantik) program on Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Teluk Panji IV Village, Kampung Rakyat District, North Sumatra Province. The initiative aims to strategically strengthen data-driven development at the village level.
Deputy Regent Syahdian Purba Siboro led the launch, emphasizing that development processes must no longer rely on assumptions but instead be grounded in accurate and well-managed data.
"In today's development era, data is the fundamental basis for precise, evidence-based, and sustainable policy decisions," he said.
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Syahdian explained that the Desa Cantik program is designed to address persistent challenges in village development, often caused by the lack of reliable data. The program encourages villages to independently collect, manage, and utilize data as the foundation for development planning.
He stressed that villages must transition from being passive recipients of policies to becoming active drivers of their own development.
"With accurate data, we can identify potential, set priorities, avoid policy errors, and ultimately improve public welfare," he added.
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DATA AS FOUNDATION: Deputy Regent Syahdian Purba Siboro highlights the importance of data as the basis for precise and sustainable development policies. (PHOTO: Jhon Fitra Sagala)
Collaboration with Statistics Agency
Read Also: Police Swiftly Respond to Collapsing Bridge Threat in Torgamba The program is implemented in collaboration with Indonesia's Central Statistics Agency (BPS), which provides technical guidance to village administrations. The partnership aims to enhance data management capacity in a sustainable and professional manner.
Syahdian welcomed the collaboration and expressed hope that the synergy between the regional government and BPS would continue to grow stronger.
"May this cooperation continue successfully and contribute to the development of our region," he said.
Toward Modern Village Governance
Read Also: Capping Day Marks Milestone for 40 Nursing Students in Kotapinang At the same event, Kampung Rakyat District Head Ali Brahamsar Nasution, SE, MM, emphasized that Desa Cantik is not merely symbolic but represents a concrete step toward modern, data-driven village governance.
"Villages must be able to analyze themselves through data. Public needs and development priorities must be based on facts, not assumptions," he stated.
TOWARD A MODERN VILLAGE: Kampung Rakyat District Head Ali Brahamsar Nasution views Desa Cantik as a concrete step toward modern, data-based village governance. (PHOTO: Jhon Fitra Sagala)
Read Also: Labuhanbatu Selatan Declared Drug Risk Zone as DPRD Pushes Prevention Bylaw He described the program as a turning point in administrative practices—shifting from manual systems to measurable and responsive approaches.
According to Ali, a shift in mindset among village officials is crucial to support this transformation, particularly in terms of adaptability, innovation, and citizen-oriented services.
A data-driven approach, he added, can accelerate public services, improve the accuracy of social assistance programs, and enhance transparency and accountability in governance.
The launch of Desa Cantik highlights the role of villages as key data actors capable of independently determining development directions.
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"When villages are strong in data, development becomes targeted. Prosperity is no longer just a vision," he concluded.
The program is expected to serve as the starting point for a broader transformation toward modern, measurable, and evidence-based village development—beginning in Teluk Panji IV and expanding across Labuhanbatu Selatan. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Jhon Fitra Sagala | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
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