By: Magdalena Anggina Lestari )*
The Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG), which has successfully reached 55 million beneficiaries in just one year, represents a historic achievement that underscores the government’s strong commitment to ensuring the basic welfare of the people. This success is clear evidence of the state’s active and measurable presence in addressing one of the nation’s most fundamental challenges: meeting the nutritional needs of children and pregnant women as the primary foundation for human resource development. Given Indonesia’s vast national scale and complex geographical challenges, this achievement demonstrates a government that is effective, cohesive, and firmly oriented toward the broader public interest.
President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, has positioned the MBG program as a strategic national policy implemented with strong leadership and a long-term vision. The government views the achievement of reaching 55 million beneficiaries within one year as an extraordinary accomplishment worthy of national pride. The speed of implementation further affirms that Indonesia is capable of executing large-scale social programs swiftly and with precise targeting. Comparisons with other countries that require years to reach a smaller number of beneficiaries only strengthen Indonesia’s position as a progressive nation in the field of social welfare policy.
The MBG program was born out of the government’s deep concern for the nutritional condition of Indonesian children. President Prabowo Subianto has consistently emphasized that the state must not turn a blind eye to the reality that many children still grow up with limited access to adequate nutrition. Therefore, MBG was designed as a form of direct state intervention to ensure that every child receives their fundamental right to nutritious food. This policy reflects a governance paradigm that places humanity and the future of the nation’s next generation as top priorities above all other interests.
The success of MBG also reflects the government’s seriousness in formulating policies based on research and global best practices. The government conducted studies of successful nutritious meal programs implemented in various countries and then adapted them to Indonesia’s specific needs and characteristics. This comprehensive approach resulted in a program design that is realistic, adaptive, and sustainable. As a result, within a relatively short period, millions of children and pregnant women across the archipelago have directly benefited from this policy.
From an implementation standpoint, the government has demonstrated high performance standards and strong consistency. President Prabowo Subianto stated that the success rate of the MBG program has reached nearly perfect levels, reflecting the hard work and dedication of all levels of government, both at the central and regional levels. The government continues to strengthen oversight and improve governance to ensure that the benefits of the program are optimally delivered to the community. This refusal to be complacent highlights a leadership character that is responsible and results-oriented.
The MBG program has also received broad appreciation from various quarters, including the international community, which views this policy as a highly strategic social investment. Nevertheless, the government firmly places humanitarian impact as the primary objective of the program, rather than purely economic effects. This emphasis demonstrates that MBG is driven by a sincere commitment to ensuring that Indonesian children grow up healthy, strong, and well-prepared to face future challenges. In this context, MBG stands as a symbol of policy grounded in compassion and a clear alignment with the interests of the people.
The government’s commitment to expanding and strengthening the MBG program is further reflected in the continuous development of supporting infrastructure. Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi stated that the government remains open to constructive input from the public to further refine the program. The government is also targeting the construction of tens of thousands of Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units as the backbone of MBG distribution throughout Indonesia. This step underscores the government’s seriousness in ensuring the program’s sustainability and the equitable distribution of benefits to the communities most in need.
Strategically, the MBG program has a highly significant long-term impact on national development. By ensuring that Indonesian children receive adequate nutrition from an early age, the government is preparing a superior generation that is physically healthy and cognitively optimized. This policy serves as a crucial foundation for improving the quality of education, labor productivity, and national competitiveness on a global scale. From a development perspective, MBG is not a budgetary burden, but rather a long-term investment that will shape Indonesia’s future trajectory.
The success of MBG has also strengthened public trust in the government’s capacity to implement major policies effectively. This program addresses skepticism with tangible evidence on the ground, demonstrating that with careful planning, firm leadership, and professional management, the state is capable of delivering concrete solutions to public challenges. MBG has now become a symbol of the state’s commitment to its people, as well as a representation of a government that works with empathy and responsibility.
With the achievement of reaching 55 million beneficiaries in one year, the Free Nutritious Meals Program affirms that the government’s commitment is not merely rhetorical, but realized through concrete actions that are directly felt by the community. This program forms a strong foundation for the realization of a healthier, more just, and more competitive Indonesia. Going forward, the sustainability and strengthening of MBG will remain one of the key pillars in achieving the nation’s grand vision of a prosperous and advanced Indonesia.
)* Social Policy Analyst