When Regent Dyah Kartika Permanasari (Regent Tika) was sworn in February 2025, she set her sights on transforming Kendal into a more self-sustaining region/district. Among her key priorities are health, education, and welfare sectors. In just over a year in office, Kendal Regency’s economic growth rose from 5.42% (2024) to 8.84% (third quarter of 2025), investment realisation reached the highest level in Central Java Province, and the poverty rate declined from 9.35% (2024) to 8.40% (2025) (inilahjateng.com, February 2026). She has demonstrated that her policies have delivered tangible benefits to the region and its people.
Improving Access to Healthcare Across Kendal
Regent Tika has initiated the integration of the regency’s mobile hospital programme (Program Rumah Sakit Keliling) with the provincial “Spesialis Keliling” (Speling) health initiative. Through the Program Rumah Sakit Keliling, hospital services are brought closer to residents, while the “Speling” programme provides access to both general practitioners and medical specialists. The integration of these two programmes is expected to improve access to comprehensive healthcare services for residents of Kendal.
To further expand healthcare access, Regent Tika also allocated a grant to accelerate the development of Rumah Sakit Nahdlatul Ulama (Nahdlatul Ulama Hospital/RSNU). The Regional Grant Agreement was signed on May 7, 2026, marking the initial step in the hospital’s development.
Welfare Enhancement
Using the local budget, Regent Tika has also enrolled residents working in the informal and vulnerable sectors in the national social security programme, namely “Employment Injury Security” (Jaminan Kecelakaan Kerja/JKK) and Death Security (Jaminan Kematian/JKM). Through this initiative, Regent Tika aims to reach workers in the informal and vulnerable sectors—groups that are often overlooked—so that they can receive better protection in terms of occupational safety and social security. This includes access to medical treatment, home care services, death benefits, permanent total disability compensation, scholarship assistance, and funeral benefits.
To improve the livelihoods of residents, Regent Tika carried out a renovation project at Pasar Boja (Boja Market). Pasar Boja is one of the most important traditional markets in the area, accommodating around 1,100 traders operating stalls and kiosks. As a key driver of economic activity in the Boja District, the market generates approximately IDR 22 billion (around USD 1.3–1.5 million) in revenue each year (humas.jatengprov.go.id, March 2025).
The renovation project, which began in late 2025 and was completed in January 2026, included roof repairs and the installation of CCTV cameras to improve safety and convenience. Following its completion, local media reported that traders and residents expressed satisfaction with the improvements.
Education Support
In the education sector, Regent Tika has initiated a “One Village, One Graduate” programme targeting farmers and tobacco workers in the region. The programme is funded by the local budget and supported by the private sector through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) schemes. In collaboration with vocational education institutions, the programme focuses on developing practical skills aligned with industry needs, laying the foundation for improved human resource quality in the region.
The Acknowledgement
In just one year, her dedication was recognised at the “Women’s Inspiration Awards 2026” in the Women of Social Impact category. “This isn’t about personal achievement, but about inspiring other women to dedicate their work to the country,” she said.
For some people, one year of work is just the beginning. But for Regent Tika, clear vision and dedicated leadership have already delivered achievements from the outset.
Sources:
https://humas.jatengprov.go.id/detail_berita_gubernur?id=9449
https://www.instagram.com/p/DRmsUrsD9hG/
https://rri.co.id/semarang/info-pemda/2391649/pemkab-kendal-targetkan-program-speling-2026-sasar-56-desa
https://www.mediasulsel.com/kendal-jadi-magnet-investasi-bupati-dyah-kartika-ungkap-strategi-dorong-ekonomi-dan-sdm/
https://inilahjateng.com/setahun-pimpin-kendal-inilah-capaian-dyah-kartika-permanasari/
https://www.sigijateng.id/jawa-tengah/1501950162/tepati-janji-kampanye-bupati-kendal-alhamdulillah-revitalisasi-pasar-boja-terlaksana?page=2
https://kicaunews.com/2026/05/06/bupati-kendal-meraih-penghargaan-sebagai-womens-inspiration-awards-2026/
Photos:
https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyah_Kartika_Permanasari#/media/Berkas:Bupati_Kendal_Dyah_Kartika_Permanasari.jpg
https://www.kendalkab.go.id/images/konten/pariwisata/20181010001.jpg
