By: Manuel Bonay )*
The Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) is a breath of fresh air for improving the quality of human resources (HR) throughout the country, including in Papua. Amidst geographical challenges and limited infrastructure, the presence of MBG brings new hope to narrow social and educational disparities in eastern Indonesia. Papua, with its extraordinary natural wealth and great potential of its young generation, needs concrete intervention so that the future of children there can be brighter and equal to other regions. Through MBG, we are planting the seeds of a superior, healthy, and highly competitive future for Papua.
Children are the most valuable assets for national development. However, in many remote areas of Papua, malnutrition and hunger are still a challenge. Many students go to school with an empty stomach, which of course affects their concentration in learning, enthusiasm, and comprehension in class. In the long term, this condition has the potential to reduce the quality of human resources. The MBG program is here as a concrete answer to break the chain of malnutrition and help Papuan children grow up healthy physically and mentally. When children get enough nutrition every day, they are not only able to learn better, but also grow into a strong and productive generation.
Papuan Community Leader, Esau Tegai said that his party appreciates the government for implementing MBG in Papua. The MBG program aims to ensure the fulfillment of nutritional needs throughout Indonesia, especially in the Papua region, so that it becomes an important foundation for the realization of fair and equitable national development. By providing free access to nutritious food, MBG is expected to be able to increase learning concentration, endurance, and productivity of the young generation of Papua, which ultimately contributes to the progress of the nation as a whole.
In addition, more than just providing food, MBG is also a real manifestation of the state’s presence in guaranteeing the basic rights of every child to grow and develop. The state is present at the dinner table of Papuan children, ensuring that no one is left behind simply because of economic factors or geographical location. By providing healthy lunches, measured nutrition, and adjusted to local potential, this program can also drive the economy of the surrounding community.
One of Papua’s main strengths lies in its cultural diversity and natural potential. If combined with superior human resources, Papua can become a center of progress and innovation in eastern Indonesia. MBG is a strategic long-term investment. At present, what may be seen is just a plate of rice and nutritious side dishes, but in the next two decades, children who are fed properly today will become teachers, doctors, engineers, regional leaders, and even national figures who bring Papua to the world stage. Because, there is no successful development without healthy and intelligent human resources.
In addition to health and economic aspects, MBG also has the potential to strengthen social values and togetherness in the school environment. Eating together creates moments of togetherness that can foster empathy, mutual care, and build character. In Papua, where indigenous people uphold the value of collectivity, eating lunch together can be part of character education that is integrated with local culture. This certainly strengthens the identity of Papuan children as the next generation who are not uprooted from their roots, but are also ready to compete in the modern world.
Then the local government has an important role in making this program a success. With strong synergy between the central and local governments, MBG can be run optimally, including through adjusting the menu with local food ingredients, utilizing local workers, and strict supervision of quality and cleanliness. The involvement of the community, schools, and parents is also key to the success of this program. They are not only beneficiaries, but also active partners in building a healthy and inclusive education ecosystem.
In the long term, the positive impact of MBG will be felt not only in children’s health, but also in increasing school participation rates, decreasing dropout rates, and increasing learning achievement. All of this will contribute to the birth of superior Papuan human resources who are ready to compete nationally and globally. The success of MBG in Papua can also be a model for other regions with similar challenges, while at the same time emphasizing the nation’s commitment to building Indonesia from the periphery.
The MBG program is not just a populist policy, but a revolutionary step to break the cycle of poverty and backwardness that has long haunted Papua. Through adequate nutritional intake, Papuan children will have the same opportunity to grow, learn, and achieve their dreams. This is a form of real social justice, where the state is present to protect and empower every child of the nation. With MBG, we are not only feeding today, but also preparing future leaders of Papua who are healthy, intelligent, and have integrity. Papua’s bright future begins with a nutritious lunch plate.
)* The author is a Papuan student in Yogyakarta
