Indonesia's 'Nutritious Meal' program to reduce beneficiaries

Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has been granted an additional month to overhaul the management of the "Nutritious Meal" (MBG) program, following President Prabowo Subianto's directive for greater precision in its implementation. The president is prioritizing the program's effectiveness, ensuring it reaches the intended recipients.

Agustina Arumsari, Deputy Head of BGN, stated that the program will no longer have a fixed number of beneficiaries. Instead, the focus will be on ensuring the program is "right on target." This shift necessitates a refocusing of who benefits from the MBG initiative, which currently serves 62.7 million people. Arumsari indicated that some beneficiaries, including certain schools, are likely to be removed from the list.

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There will be a reduction in beneficiaries.

"There will be a reduction in beneficiaries," Arumsari told reporters on Tuesday. While she acknowledged that some schools have been identified for removal, she declined to provide specific numbers or school levels, asking for patience until a final decision is made within the month. The BGN is coordinating this review with Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan and the Ministry of Finance.

The review of the MBG program's beneficiaries is expected to impact its budget. The BGN has already undergone an efficiency drive, reducing the program's allocation from 268 trillion rupiah to 229 trillion rupiah. The ongoing adjustments aim to ensure the program's resources are allocated more effectively to achieve its nutritional goals for the population.

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Give us another month, be patient.