JAKARTA – The government has confirmed that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program will continue during the month of Ramadan, which is expected to start on March 1, 2025.
Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, emphasized that the program will adjust its implementation scheme to remain effective in meeting the nutritional needs of schoolchildren.
“Children will still go to school, then take home meals to break their fast for those who are Muslim. For those who are not fasting, they will still receive meals but are encouraged to consume them at home to respect their fasting peers,” said Dadan.
Acting Director of the Human Development and Humanity Budget, Diah Dwi Utami, mentioned that the MBG program is one of President Prabowo Subianto’s priorities aimed at improving the nutritional quality of children to support their growth and cognitive development.
“This program is crucial to build a healthy and intelligent younger generation. Access to adequate nutrition can improve academic performance and productivity in the future,” said Diah.
She added that nutrition issues remain a serious challenge in Indonesia, including the triple burden of malnutrition, which includes undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies. The government has allocated IDR 71 trillion from the 2025 state budget to support the sustainability of the MBG program. Of this, IDR 51.5 trillion will be allocated for food supplies, while the remainder will be used for operational and technical expenses.
“This budget allocation ensures the program’s sustainability and creates a tangible impact in addressing nutritional issues. The President has targeted that all children in Indonesia will have access to free nutritious meals by the end of 2025,” she added.
As a demonstration of the government’s seriousness in implementing the MBG program, Vice President of Indonesia, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, has actively monitored its implementation at SMPN 11 and SMAN 4 Depok, West Java.
The Vice President stated that the MBG program is running well and has been enthusiastically welcomed by students.
“I saw that the children were eating their meals enthusiastically today. If there is any evaluation, feel free to share it. The BGN team is ready to follow up,” he said.
With the MBG program continuing throughout Ramadan, the government is committed to ensuring that all children in Indonesia have access to adequate nutrition to support their growth and development. This program is expected not only to improve children’s health but also to promote broader social and economic welfare. The MBG program also involves various state institutions and community organizations such as the TNI, Polri, BIN, NU, and Muhammadiyah.
