Indonesian Lawmaker Asks New Nutrition Agency Head to Focus on Improving Free Meal Program in Papua

Indonesian legislator Yan Mandenas has called on the newly appointed head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to prioritize improving the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, particularly in Papua. Mandenas stressed that enhancing the program's quality is crucial for its benefits to be more widely felt by the community, especially students.

Mandenas believes the leadership change signals the government's attention to public feedback and parliamentary oversight of the MBG program. He highlighted the program's vital role in supporting student nutrition and fostering a healthy, intelligent, and productive young generation, aligning with the national goal of 'Indonesia Emas 2045' (Golden Indonesia 2045).

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The MBG program has an important role in supporting the improvement of student nutrition while preparing a healthy, intelligent, and productive young generation towards Indonesia Emas 2045.

The legislator hopes the new BGN leadership will focus on improving service quality, including menu composition, food preparation processes, and distribution to recipient schools. He noted that the unique geographical challenges in remote areas of Papua require serious attention. Additionally, Mandenas suggested the program should create economic opportunities for local communities by utilizing locally sourced food ingredients.

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We hope the evaluation conducted by the government on BGN leadership will be a momentum for improvement so that the implementation of MBG in Tanah Papua becomes more qualified, equitable, and provides real benefits for students and the community.