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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Health & Science

Indonesia Considers Limiting Free Meal Program to Young Children and Junior High Students

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Indonesia's House of Representatives is considering limiting the free nutritious meal program to toddlers and junior high school students.
  • Lawmakers argue this age group requires higher nutritional intake for growth, and the program's impact is less significant for high school students.
  • The proposal aims to ensure accurate targeting of beneficiaries and potentially save the budget, with discussions ongoing about reducing the number of beneficiaries.

Indonesia's House of Representatives is contemplating a significant shift in its free nutritious meal (MBG) program, proposing to prioritize toddlers and junior high school students. Deputy Chairperson of Commission IX, Yahya Zaini, stated that this age group is crucial as they are in a critical growth phase requiring substantial nutritional intake.

Because they are still in a growing phase that requires high nutritional intake.

— Yahya ZainiDeputy Chairperson of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Commission IX, explaining the rationale for prioritizing toddlers and junior high school students for the free meal program.

Under this proposed refocusing, high school students would no longer be direct beneficiaries of the MBG program. Zaini explained that the intervention's influence on the nutritional intake of high school students during their growth phase is considered less impactful. He stressed the need for careful consideration in refocusing recipients, including ensuring the accurate identification of families based on their economic decile.

The idea of refining the MBG program's scope was previously presented by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to legislators. Deputy Head of BGN, Agustina Arumsari, indicated that such a refocusing could lead to more accurate targeting and budget savings. Further supporting this direction, the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) suggested reducing the number of MBG beneficiaries from 82 million to 26 million based on actual needs and objectives.

Refocusing of the recipients must be done carefully, including ensuring the respective family's decile.

— Yahya ZainiDeputy Chairperson of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Commission IX, emphasizing the need for careful targeting of beneficiaries.

Deputy Chairperson of Commission IX, Charles Honoris, agreed with Celios' findings, emphasizing that the program's original goals of improving children's nutrition and reducing stunting mean not all children should be categorized as beneficiaries. Commission IX plans to establish a working committee to thoroughly address the MBG program's future, aiming for specific and comprehensive plans.

With the Panja, it is expected that there will be specific and comprehensive plans on how this program can proceed in the future.

— Charles HonorisDeputy Chairperson of Commission IX, outlining the expected outcome of forming a working committee to address the MBG program.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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