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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Indonesia reviews free school meals program to target needy families

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is reviewing a proposal to exclude children from affluent families from the free school meal program (MBG).
  • The review, ordered by President Prabowo Subianto, aims to prioritize the program for those most in need, including lower-income groups and areas prone to stunting.
  • The BGN expects to complete its assessment within a month, alongside other evaluations of the MBG program.

Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is currently evaluating a proposal that could exclude children from wealthier families from the free school meal program, known as Makan Gizi Gratis (MBG). The agency is still considering the implications of this potential change, according to Deputy Head of BGN, Trenggono.

We are still reviewing it. There has been a discourse towards that direction, but we are still reviewing it.

— TrenggonoDeputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) on the potential exclusion of affluent children from the free meal program.

"We are still reviewing it. There has been a discourse towards that direction, but we are still reviewing it," Trenggono stated during a work meeting with Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives in Jakarta. While specific criteria for future beneficiaries, such as income deciles or school types, have not yet been detailed, Trenggono emphasized that the program's priority will remain with those who genuinely need it.

President Prabowo Subianto has instructed his administration to reassess the targeting of the MBG program. The goal is to ensure it more effectively reaches disadvantaged groups, including those in lower income deciles and regions identified as having high stunting rates. This directive stems from various inputs received during recent meetings.

He listened to all the input from all participants in the meeting, there were various suggestions.

— Agustina ArumsariDeputy Head of BGN explaining President Prabowo Subianto's directive following feedback on the MBG program.

Deputy Head of BGN, Agustina Arumsari, explained that the President wants all feedback on the MBG program's implementation to be thoroughly examined before any decisions are made. "He listened to all the input from all participants in the meeting, there were various suggestions," Arumsari said. The agency aims to complete its review within one month, aligning with the President's deadline for evaluating various aspects of the program. The findings will be presented once the assessment is concluded.

Those who need to be made more efficient, who no longer need to receive the MBG program, please do not receive it anymore, but those who are in the lower deciles, in underdeveloped areas, in areas with high stunting rates, please be given it.

— Agustina ArumsariQuoting President Prabowo Subianto's directive on prioritizing the MBG program for the needy.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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