By: Dirandra Falguni
The Free Nutritional Meal Program (MBG), launched by President Prabowo Subianto, has become one of the government’s flagship policies in building healthy and productive human resources (HR) in Indonesia. This program is not just about providing nutritious food for children and pregnant women, but also a significant strategy to create a golden generation ready to compete on the global stage.
President Prabowo emphasized the importance of this program at the 2025 World Government Summit, stating that MBG is a major investment for the nation’s future. With coverage across 330,000 schools throughout Indonesia, the government targets over 85 million children and pregnant women to benefit from this program. President Prabowo mentioned that, when implemented in hundreds of thousands of schools—from remote villages to dynamic urban centers—this becomes a substantial investment in the future of the nation.
Through this program, the government aims to ensure that Indonesian children receive adequate nutrition from an early age, allowing them to grow optimally, both physically and mentally. The importance of childhood nutrition cannot be overstated, as it has a major impact on intelligence, productivity, and individual competitiveness in the future.
Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Wamendiktisaintek), Fauzan, emphasized that this program must involve universities in research and management to ensure its optimal implementation. The success of the MBG program does not solely depend on the central government but also requires participation from various elements, including the education sector and relevant institutions.
Fauzan also stated that all higher education institutions are expected to collaborate in support of Indonesia’s 2045 Golden Generation initiative through this MBG program. Universities play an essential role in overseeing the program, both in terms of qualitative and quantitative research and management.
The MBG program proposed by President Prabowo could be a positive step in improving the welfare of society, especially for the less fortunate. Access to nutritious food contributes to better quality of life and increased productivity, particularly for children. The program also has the potential to reduce the nutritional gap that remains a challenge within the country.
Meanwhile, the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Prof. Dadan Hindayana, stated that MBG is the largest HR investment in Indonesia’s history. According to him, this program is a concrete step towards achieving the 2045 Golden Generation, where Indonesia is expected to become one of the world’s economic powers with excellent and highly competitive human resources.
He is confident that with the unity of the entire Cabinet, including the TNI, Polri, and BIN, the program will be successful and become a significant legacy for the nation. By the end of 2025, the government targets that 80 million schoolchildren will benefit from this program. However, the acceleration and effectiveness of the program will depend heavily on the involvement of various ministries and support from all elements of society.
Support for MBG comes from various groups, including community organizations. One such supporter is the Youth of Muhammadiyah Maluku Utara, which has expressed its commitment to ensuring the success of this program.
The Chairman of the Youth of Muhammadiyah Maluku Utara, Muhammad Fadly, stated that this program aligns with Muhammadiyah’s vision of improving public welfare and health. The Youth of Muhammadiyah Maluku Utara fully supports the Free Nutritional Meal Program launched by President Prabowo. This is a strategic step towards building a healthier and higher-quality future.
In addition to providing moral support, the Youth of Muhammadiyah is also ready to assist in monitoring and implementing the program to ensure its benefits are felt by communities, including those in remote areas of Maluku Utara. The support from organizations like the Youth of Muhammadiyah shows that the success of MBG is not only the government’s responsibility but also requires close collaboration with society and the business sector.
As part of the initial implementation, the government began a trial run of the MBG program in Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan, on February 17, 2025. The Assistant for Government and Social Affairs of the Bengkayang Regency Government, Yohanes Atet, reported that the trial is being conducted in five schools, with a total of 1,289 students as the first-phase target.
The Bengkayang Regency Government is also collaborating with the Health Office, the Education Office, the TNI, Polri, and various other parties to ensure the smooth distribution of nutritious food. The Head of the Bengkayang Regency Education and Culture Office, Heru Pujiono, added that his team has conducted data collection for students with specific conditions, such as food allergies, lactose intolerance, or other special nutritional needs.
The MBG program is not just about providing food for children, but also a large-scale strategy in Indonesia’s human resource development. With the involvement of various stakeholders, including the central and regional governments, community organizations, and the education sector, this program is expected to create a healthier, smarter, and more competitive generation of Indonesians.
Sustained support and oversight will be key to the success of MBG. If the program is successfully implemented, by 2045, Indonesia will have a generation better prepared to face global challenges, positioning the country as a major global force.
)* Contributor to Beritakapuas.com
