By: Yudhistira Wijaya
The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) is one of President Prabowo Subianto’s strategic policies aimed at improving the quality of Indonesia’s human resources. Amidst the challenges of stunting, malnutrition, and disparities in food access between regions, the MBG serves as a long-term investment aimed at ensuring every Indonesian child receives adequate nutrition. This program goes beyond simply distributing food; it is part of an effort to build a healthy, intelligent, and productive generation towards Indonesia Emas 2045.
From a community nutrition perspective, interventions at school age have a significant impact on children’s health and learning abilities. Adequate energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals will improve concentration, endurance, and cognitive development. Therefore, the success of the MBG program is measured not only by the number of beneficiaries, but also by the quality of service, targeted accuracy, food safety, and good governance.
This commitment is evident in Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s decision to prioritize MBG (National Food Security) in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions. This policy reflects a more equitable development trajectory, prioritizing areas with limited access. According to Gibran, communities in 3T regions are the group most in need of nutritional intervention, and therefore, accelerating the operation of MBG kitchens is a government priority.
This demonstrates that the government is not turning a blind eye to the various challenges on the ground. Gibran also openly acknowledged that there are still a number of shortcomings in the implementation of the MBG, particularly in aspects of governance, efficiency, procurement, and potential budget irregularities. This openness is commendable, as it reflects the government’s commitment to continuous evaluation and ensuring that every rupiah of the state budget truly benefits the public and is free from corruption.
The benefits of MBG are felt in real terms by the community. One touching story comes from Nasya Losefa Zega, a third-grade elementary school student in North Nias Regency. In a handwritten letter to President Prabowo Subianto, Nasya expressed her gratitude that her school has been renovated and that she receives nutritious meals every day. For her, the presence of MBG means that pocket money previously used to buy lunch can now be saved to purchase school supplies. This simple testimony demonstrates that the benefits of MBG are not only felt in terms of health, but also help ease the family’s economic burden.
On the other hand, the impact of the MBG is also beginning to be felt by the community as a driver of the local economy. The operation of thousands of Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) has driven increased demand for agricultural, livestock, and fishery products, as well as local food products. This has created a multiplier effect, creating new jobs and increasing incomes for farmers, livestock breeders, fishermen, and micro-entrepreneurs in various regions.
It’s no surprise that support for the sustainability of the MBG continues to grow. The Jember Maju Community Forum (FMJM) has openly expressed its support for the government’s strategic programs, including the MBG. FMJM believes that the program not only helps improve community nutrition but also creates jobs, stimulates the village economy, and contributes to poverty and stunting reduction efforts. Interestingly, this support is also accompanied by a call for the government to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the governance of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to ensure that the implementation of the MBG is more clean, transparent, and professional.
A similar view was expressed by the Friends of the Commander Movement (GASMEN) when submitting its aspirations to the Ministry of State Secretariat. GASMEN emphasized its support for the sustainability of the MBG, particularly for children, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and other vulnerable groups. For GASMEN, if weaknesses are found in program implementation, the appropriate solution is to improve the system and take action against perpetrators of irregularities, not to terminate a program whose benefits have been felt by the community, especially in remote and island areas.
The government responded positively to this public support. Deputy Minister of State Secretary Juri Ardiantoro emphasized that the government will continue to refine kitchen operational standards, improve menu quality, strengthen food safety, and provide a platform for public complaints so that any issues can be promptly addressed. The government also invited the public to actively participate in monitoring the implementation of the MBG so that any input can be used as input for continuous improvement.
The commitment to improvement was also reinforced by Dudung Prasetyo, the Chief Expert of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP). He emphasized the importance of participatory oversight so that the public can monitor the implementation of the MBG, provide input, and report any irregularities found in the field. Therefore, the success of the MBG is measured not only by the number of beneficiaries, but also by the quality of service, accuracy of targeting, and accountability of budget management.
Ultimately, MBG is a long-term investment whose benefits are starting to be felt by the community today and whose results will be enjoyed by the nation in the future. When children receive good nutrition, families are supported, local economies thrive, and governance continues to improve, the grand goal of developing superior Indonesian human resources is closer to reality.
)*The author is an observer of nutrition and food policy