The Indonesian government has allocated Rp71 trillion (US$4.3 billion) for a new program to provide free nutritious meals for children and pregnant women, a figure significantly lower than the Rp400 trillion-Rp450 trillion proposed during President-elect Prabowo Subianto’s election campaign.
Despite the reduced budget, Anggawira, a representative from Prabowo-Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s National Campaign Team, assured that the quality of the meals would not be compromised. However, there will be adjustments in the number of beneficiaries during the initial phase to ensure that the nutritional standards of the meals are maintained.
“There will be a reduction in quantity because we do not want to compromise on the quality of the meals provided. It’s pointless if the quality doesn’t meet expectations,” Anggawira said in Jakarta on Monday, July 29, 2024.
The specific allocation for each meal is still under discussion, as a pilot program is currently being tested in 20 locations.
The funding for these trials is sourced from a mix of public and private contributions, including local government funds, Regional Budget (APBD), ministry budgets, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
The cost per meal is tentatively set at a maximum of Rp15,000, though this may vary depending on local cost differences.
The free nutritious meal program is expected to benefit approximately 82 million children and pregnant women, slightly less than the 82.9 million initially promised during the campaign.
The targeted recipients include 44 million school-aged children, 4 million students in religious schools, 30 million infants, and 4 million pregnant women.
To facilitate the program’s implementation, 48,000 service units will be established to distribute the meals. This extensive network aims to ensure that nutritious meals reach the intended beneficiaries across Indonesia, including in remote and underserved regions.
Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Airlangga Hartarto, said that while the current budget is set at Rp71 trillion, there could be adjustments based on implementation needs and regional priorities.
He highlighted that the program’s impact on the national economy is yet to be fully detailed, but emphasized its potential significance, particularly in focusing on the most underdeveloped and remote areas of the country.
