Indonesia's nutritious meal program resumes after three-week suspension

Indonesia's "Makan Bergizi Gratis" (MBG), a presidential priority program offering nutritious meals, has resumed operations on the first day of school after a three-week halt. Officials from the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) personally inspected schools and nutrition service units in Jakarta to oversee the program's relaunch.

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We want to ensure that MBG distribution is running smoothly again after the adjustment period. Various improvements made are expected to enhance service quality so that the program's benefits are optimally felt by all recipients.

Agustina Arumsari, Deputy Head of BGN, stated the visits were to confirm that meal distribution is timely and that the quality meets standards for recipients. "We want to ensure that MBG distribution is running smoothly again after the adjustment period. Various improvements made are expected to enhance service quality so that the program's benefits are optimally felt by all recipients," she said.

Arumsari added that BGN is gathering feedback from field implementers as part of an ongoing evaluation to refine the program. "Through these visits, we also note several things that need continuous improvement, both in terms of operations, timeliness of distribution, inter-party coordination, and service quality in the field," she noted.

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Through these visits, we also note several things that need continuous improvement, both in terms of operations, timeliness of distribution, inter-party coordination, and service quality in the field.

BGN claims to have implemented several improvements during the three-week break to boost the program's effectiveness and service quality. These enhancements focus on strengthening governance and refining operational aspects. Deputy Head Trenggono also inspected MBG implementation in Central Jakarta schools, emphasizing that the program should not only meet children's nutritional needs but also create sustainable economic impacts by prioritizing local food potential and involving nearby businesses. He urged kitchens to consistently include animal protein in daily menus to support children's growth.

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The Free Nutritious Meal program must be a driver of the food ecosystem in the region. We need to utilize local fruits of quality, reduce dependence on factory-produced raw materials, and prioritize supplies from MSMEs.