Indonesia: Free Meal Program Sidelining Village Development, Residents Complain
Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Residents of Labbo Village, South Sulawesi, are complaining that the government's free nutritious meal program is hindering village development.
- They claim the program has led to budget cuts for infrastructure projects and community initiatives, with funding diverted to the meal program.
- Food prices have reportedly increased, and essential items like rice have become scarce due to the program's demands.
Residents of Labbo Village in Bantaeng Regency, South Sulawesi, are voicing strong concerns that the government's flagship free nutritious meal (MBG) program is negatively impacting their community's development. According to local resident Ashar, the program, championed by presidential candidate Prabowo, has led to significant budget cuts for essential village infrastructure and community projects, with funds being redirected to the meal initiative.
Even though the village relies heavily on the funding for the development of roads and other facilities.
Ashar lamented that crucial projects, previously agreed upon during village planning discussions (musrenbang), are now stalled. This lack of development directly affects the fundamental needs of the villagers, particularly concerning infrastructure vital for the distribution of agricultural products. The sentiment is that development priorities are being ignored in favor of the meal program, which does not align with the community's pressing needs.
What should have been prioritized is not being addressed. This goes against the needs of the village community.
Beyond the stalled development, villagers report a concerning economic impact, specifically a sharp increase in food prices. Rahmad Saldi Asiddiq, the Head of the Neighborhood Association (RT) in Labbo Village, noted that essential commodities such as poultry and rice have become scarce. He explained that the high demand from the MBG program, often involving bulk purchases at inflated prices, is driving up costs and reducing availability for ordinary residents.
It's difficult to find rice, as the commodity has been purchased beforehand for MBG at a higher price.
Compounding these issues, village authorities are perceived by some residents as being too involved in the MBG program, potentially compromising their ability to address the community's hardships. There are also reports of educational aid, like the Smart Indonesia Card (KIP), being affected, possibly due to welfare data adjustments amidst the budget reallocations. The villagers are urging the central government to review the funding scheme of the free meal program to ensure that village development is not further jeopardized.
If everyone is involved, who can the community turn to for help?
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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