Implementation of Astacita:Strengthening Human Resources through the Free Nutritious Meal Program
By: Reenee WA. (Former Journalist/ Socio-economic Observer)
Human Resources (HR) are an important capital in the life of a nation. National development essentially begins with development for its people, so that HR development is the main priority as stated in Astacita which deserves to be appreciated. The two main factors in HR development are health and education. With both of them being of high quality, HR can achieve various positive things, both in personal life, family, nation, and global life.
Astacita are the eight ideals of the Indonesian nation initiated by President Prabowo Subianto together with Vice President Gibran Rabuming Raka, as the direction of national development. One of the important points in Astacita is strengthening Human Resources (HR) as the foundation of the nation’s progress. Strengthening HR does not only concern formal education, but also health and fulfilling good nutrition, especially from an early age.
The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) is present as a real implementation of the spirit of Astacita, especially in the aspect of Indonesian human development. This program aims to ensure that Indonesian children receive balanced nutrition which is crucial for their physical and cognitive development. Malnutrition during childhood can have serious impacts on learning ability, endurance, and even affect productivity as adults.
Director of Postgraduate Program of Yarsi University, Prof. Dr. Chandra Yoga Aditama stated that nutritious food is one of the important components for health. Nutritious food will be a very important element for health, and if provided in schools, it will certainly support the education process.
The implementation of the MBG program is in line with the vision of human development in Astacita which emphasizes the importance of long-term investment in human resources. By providing nutritious food in schools, this program not only addresses the problem of malnutrition, but also supports the education process by creating more optimal learning conditions. Children who are well-nourished will have better concentration and sufficient energy for learning activities.
It is undeniable that the free nutritious food program that has been running for several months in remote areas of the country has received a positive response from parents. However, there are also various challenges that the government must face in its efforts to launch this MBG program. One of the main challenges of the MBG program lies in its management which must be comprehensive, from upstream to downstream. Starting from the selection of quality food ingredients, proper storage, hygienic processing, to presentation that is attractive to children.
Prof. Chandra said that the concept of “from farm to plate” introduced by WHO is an important guideline to ensure the quality and safety of food in this program. Starting from the selection of raw materials, storage, cooking process to the process of sending the food to the school. In addition, waste processing also needs to be considered
This MBG program can be said to be a form of long-term investment, as long as it is carried out correctly and consistently continuously. The free nutritious meal program is a form of long-term investment that provides extraordinary benefits for society and the country. When the government provides access to nutritious food for citizens, especially children and vulnerable groups, the impact goes far beyond reducing hunger alone, because this program has a significant impact on child development.
Adequate nutrition during growth is very important for optimal brain and physical development. Children who receive balanced nutritional intake have better cognitive abilities, increased concentration, and higher academic achievement. This means that investing in the free nutritious meal program today will produce quality human resources in the future.
Meanwhile, from a public health perspective, the program prevents various diseases related to malnutrition. Malnutrition can lead to a weakened immune system, stunting, and various chronic health problems. By providing nutritious food, the country can reduce the burden of long-term health costs that are often much greater than the cost of the meal program.
Although it requires a large budget, the free nutritious meal program should be seen as a strategic investment, not as an expense. The long-term benefits—a healthier, more productive, and better-educated society—far outweigh the costs of implementing it.
The government continues to optimize the use of the APBN so that the benefits can be felt directly by the community. Deputy Minister of Finance Suahasil Nazara said that the MBG budget was initially allocated at IDR 71 trillion, with a target recipient set at 7.9 million people consisting of 15.5 million school children and 2.4 million pregnant/breastfeeding mothers and toddlers. However, President Prabowo Subianto wants the distribution target to be accelerated, so additional budget is needed. The President then instructed that the beneficiaries be maximized to 82.9 million people by the end of 2025. Thus, the budget allocation requirement has increased by around IDR 100 trillion.
The MBG program, although only running for a few months, has received a lot of appreciation and support from various regions. In Papua, a number of traditional leaders and Papuans have expressed their support for the implementation of the MBG program. This program is believed to be able to improve the nutritional status of Papuan children and adolescents, especially those who live in remote areas that are still difficult to access due to limited transportation facilities and inadequate infrastructure.
George Arnolf Awi, who serves as the Chairperson of the Port Numbay Customary Deliberation Institution (LMA), emphasized that the MBG program is very crucial to be implemented in Papua for the future of its young generation. According to him, this initiative is an important step in ensuring that the nutritional needs of Papuan children are met, who are the hope for the future of the region.
Community leaders hope that this program can reach remote areas of Papua that have so far been isolated. With improved nutritional status, it is hoped that the young generation of Papua can grow healthily and have optimal abilities to develop, both physically and intellectually.
Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana said that the MBG program is a strategic initiative that plays an important role in supporting the development of superior human resources (HR) towards Indonesia Emas 2045. Providing adequate nutrition through this program is the foundation for creating a future generation of the nation that is healthier, smarter, and more productive, as part of long-term national transformation efforts.
The successful implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program requires integrated collaboration between various stakeholders—not only from the government, but also from educational institutions, parents, community groups, and the business world. Continuous monitoring and assessment are vital components to ensure that this program remains in line with the targets that have been set.
Through effective governance, the MBG program has the potential to become the main foundation in realizing Astacita’s aspirations to develop Indonesian Human Resources that are of prime quality, have optimal health, are knowledgeable, and are competitive at the international level. (-RWA)
