Government Expands Free Nutritious Meals Program to Include Elderly and Persons with Disabilities
JAKARTA – The government continues to strengthen its commitment to improving public welfare through the Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG). After successfully reaching tens of millions of people across Indonesia, the national strategic program initiated by President Prabowo Subianto will now be expanded to cover the elderly and persons with disabilities starting in 2026.
The proposed expansion was presented by Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul) during a limited meeting with President Prabowo at the Presidential Palace. According to him, this move reflects the government’s attention to vulnerable groups to ensure they also receive proper and balanced nutrition.
“God willing, if everything goes smoothly, next year MBG will also be available for the elderly and persons with disabilities. This is part of the ongoing transformation of our social programs,” said Gus Ipul.
Gus Ipul estimated that around 100,000 elderly people and 30,000 persons with disabilities will be the initial beneficiaries of the MBG program. MBG will complement existing social welfare support for these vulnerable groups.
“Social assistance provides protection and social security, while MBG ensures their nutritional needs are also met,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of State Apparatus Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB) continues to strengthen the governance of MBG implementation to ensure its benefits reach the public. Minister Rini Widyantini stated that her office is preparing a Presidential Regulation on the Governance of MBG Implementation and strengthening the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).
“This institutional restructuring is not merely bureaucratic; it ensures that every part functions effectively. We aim for governance that is adaptive, collaborative, and capable of ensuring that national nutrition policies truly reach the people,” Rini said.
The expansion of MBG to include the elderly and persons with disabilities demonstrates that the government is not only focused on younger generations but also committed to ensuring every citizen has equal rights to a healthy and prosperous life. With stronger governance and broader coverage, MBG is expected to become a key foundation for achieving Indonesia Emas 2045.
The MBG program itself is one of President Prabowo Subianto’s priority programs, launched on January 6, 2025, initially targeting schoolchildren, toddlers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. As of the end of October 2025, the program has reached around 40 million beneficiaries across all 38 provinces and 509 districts/cities, with a target of 82.9 million beneficiaries by the end of the year.
