Population data base planned

JAKARTA (JP): The Office of the State Minister of Population plans to launch an on-line data base service supplying information about the Indonesian population.

The service will also integrate data from other information systems, Loet Affandi, the secretary to the State Minister of Population Haryono Suyono, said.

"The Information System on Population and Family (Siduga) aims to integrate all related data and information in one network which will be run on a partnership basis and as an open access service," said Loet Affandi yesterday.

"By developing an on-line information system, we hope to overcome the problems of time and distance in tracing accurate information through the 'Siduga-net'," Affandi said.

The system is designed to support "a more conducive atmosphere ... to improve the quality of the population as actors in development."

Affandi, who is also deputy for general affairs at the National Family Planning Board, was speaking during a meeting with legislators of Commission VIII on Wednesday.

The service, will select data from at least 10 other systems developed by other ministries, including a data base on youth and sports and housing. Data will also include information supplied by the Central Statistics Bureau.

Twenty categories will be covered by the system, including family planning statistics, employment, urban-rural migration, and health and environment quality. Reference to population matters will also be included.

"Information will also be collected from conference reports besides routine data collecting," Affandi said. (anr)