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'Collective intelligence' makes bureaucracy work
Using various cross-sectional data, modern technologies and low-cost channels, citizens can raise their concerns about issues such as the difficulty of accessing health security funds, damaged school buildings, corrupt state officials or village fund design.
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After six years, LAPOR! has 693,318 users, and has registered more than 1.24 million complaints. The system has also connected with 34 ministries, 304 government agencies and 116 state-owned enterprises. (Shutterstock/File)
A
bridge in the West Java regency of Cianjur crumbled and was inaccessible following prolonged rain. That afternoon, economic activities halted and children could not attend classes.
The information came from a resident of Cianjur in his report last Nov. 28 through the LAPOR! (lapor.go.id) platform, a national online complaint handling system that allows citizens to report any flaws in public services. The resident’s efforts paid off, as on Dec. 4 the bridge connecting Kadupandak and Cijati districts was rebuilt.
When forest fires were raging in Kalimantan in 2015-2016, a citizen of West Kutai regency reported smoke from spreading forest fires. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) went straight to the point of the fire to provide evacuation and health assistance. This data helped the government’s aid to be right on target.
These two stories are part of millions of LAPOR! success stories. The system has proven countless times that it helps citizens who had not been heard. No matter if you live in a remote area in southern Nias, work as a fisherman or work as a market merchant, citizens play a prominent role in improving the quality of democratic life to better meet their needs.
Using various cross-sectional data, modern technologies and low-cost channels, citizens can raise their concerns about issues such as the difficulty of accessing health security funds, damaged school buildings, corrupt state officials or village fund design.
After six years, LAPOR! has 693,318 users, and has registered more than 1.24 million complaints. The system has also connected with 34 ministries, 304 government agencies and 116 state-owned enterprises. As that number keeps growing over time, LAPOR! can encourage public institutions to be more transparent, accountable and effective, and also to be kept on-premises.
With a population of over 250 million people across more than 6,000 islands in more than 500 districts and municipalities, what can the government do to improve public services? Data governance is the key.
