By: Jodi Mahendra )
In early 2025, the government launched the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) as a strategic step to improve the health and nutrition of children throughout the country. This program is designed to provide access to nutritious food for children, especially those from underprivileged families. With a very large budget allocation, the government shows a serious commitment to the nutritional quality of Indonesian children, while reducing the number of stunting and malnutrition that have been national problems.
The Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Wamendikdasmen), Fajar Riza Ul Haq, emphasized that the MBG program is not just about providing food, but part of a grand strategy to improve the quality of national education. According to him, children who receive adequate nutritional intake will be better able to concentrate and absorb lessons at school. Good nutrition contributes directly to children’s learning performance, brain development, and immune system.
Launched nationally on January 6, 2025, this program is a response to the high prevalence of stunting and malnutrition cases that are still serious challenges in many regions of Indonesia. The latest data shows that by mid-February 2025, this program has reached more than 19 million beneficiary children. The government allocated an initial budget of IDR 71 trillion, and has designed a budget increase of up to IDR 171 trillion by the end of 2025. This figure reflects the government’s high priority in developing Indonesia’s human resources from an early age.
Member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Lucy Kurniasari, also voiced support for this program. She stated that MBG is not only important for children, but also for mothers, because it can help improve the consumption patterns of poor families and reduce the economic burden on households. Furthermore, according to Lucy, this program is an important instrument in the national agenda to reduce stunting rates and improve the health quality of the nation’s next generation.
One aspect that is highly emphasized by the government is the guarantee of hygiene for each food package provided through this program. The government, through coordination with the National Nutrition Agency and other related institutions, has established strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the food processing and distribution process. Every food provider must follow the rules regarding sanitation, the use of fresh and quality food ingredients, and a hygienic and safe cooking process for children to consume.
In the latest evaluation report, it was stated that all MBG food provider partners have undergone intensive training on food hygiene and safety protocols. This training includes food processing procedures, proper storage, and efficient distribution. The goal is to ensure that children who receive food from this program not only get good nutrition, but also avoid the risk of disease due to food that is not suitable for consumption.
In addition to the health aspect, the MBG program also has a local economic development dimension. The government encourages the involvement of local MSMEs and farmer groups as partners in providing food ingredients, so that this program not only has an impact on beneficiary children, but also drives the economy of the community around the school. This strategy is expected to create a broad and sustainable cycle of benefits.
However, challenges in implementation remain. One of the biggest challenges is ensuring the equitable distribution of nutritious food throughout Indonesia, especially remote areas and 3T (Disadvantaged, Frontier, Outermost). To address this, the government is working with various non-governmental institutions, NGOs, and religious organizations, and utilizing existing logistics networks so that food delivery can take place smoothly and on time.
On the other hand, monitoring and transparency of budget management are crucial. The government is working on a digital reporting system and routine audits to minimize the risk of misuse of funds. Every stakeholder from the center to the regions is expected to have the same commitment in overseeing the success of this program.
The Free Nutritious Meal Program is a long-term investment for the future of the nation. Healthy and well-nourished children have the potential to become superior human resources who will build Indonesia in the future. With the support of integrated policies and cross-sector commitments, MBG can be a monumental breakthrough in the social protection system and strengthening of national education.
Through cooperation between the central government, regions, schools, and the community, the success of this program is not just a dream. In the future, there needs to be strengthening of regulations, improving distribution management, and innovation in preparing food menus to suit the diverse local nutritional needs.gan these real steps, we can ensure that every Indonesian child not only learns in a full condition, but also healthy and happy. They are the future of the nation, and our responsibility today is to ensure that they grow optimally both physically and intellectually.
*) The author is an Observer of Social and Community Issues.
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