By Sekar Ayu )*
School holidays are often a long-awaited moment for children, but for some families, it can also be a challenge in maintaining children’s daily nutritional intake. Therefore, the government’s commitment through the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) in implementing the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) deserves appreciation. It is proven that even though the academic calendar is entering a break, this program is still running actively to ensure that 5.5 million Indonesian children continue to receive sufficient and balanced nutritional intake.
BGN shows its firmness in implementing this program by ensuring that food distribution continues for six days a week, even during school holidays. BGN Spokesperson, Redy Hendra Gunawan, said that food distribution continues twice a week, namely on Monday and Thursday. The distribution strategy implemented is a combination of ready-to-eat food and packaged food, so that children still get nutritious food without depending on school activities.
Every Monday, children will receive ready-to-eat food for consumption that day, as well as packaged food intended for Tuesday and Wednesday. Meanwhile, on Thursday, distribution is carried out again with a similar scheme: ready-to-eat food for that day, and packaged food packages for Friday and Saturday. The components of the packaged food include sources of carbohydrates such as bread, protein from eggs, milk as a source of calcium, and fruits rich in vitamins. This is a form of mature nutritional planning and reflects the government’s attention to children’s basic nutritional needs.
BGN also applies environmentally friendly principles in its distribution. Each food is packaged using a special reusable bag, or tote bag. Thus, this program not only makes the nation’s children healthy, but also educates the community to live more environmentally consciously. Small steps like this show that the government’s program is designed with a comprehensive view of sustainability.
In terms of social and economic impacts, the MBG program also makes a major contribution to strengthening the local economy. More than 250 people’s economic institutions, including cooperatives, BUMDes, and MSME actors, have been involved in the process of providing raw materials for the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) which is the backbone of MBG operations in the field. The involvement of local economic actors not only provides direct income, but also opens up employment opportunities and encourages more equitable and inclusive economic growth.
Special Staff of the Head of BGN, Ary Santoso, emphasized that the main objective of the MBG program is to build a strong nutritional foundation for the younger generation. According to him, improving the quality of children’s nutrition is the first step to creating superior and competitive human resources in the future. This is very relevant to the grand vision of Indonesia 2045 which targets the realization of a golden generation that is smart, healthy, and resilient.
Ary also highlighted that MBG is not merely a social assistance program, but an integral part of a sustainable human development strategy. By getting children used to consuming nutritious food from an early age, the government is investing in the future of the nation. The availability and affordability of healthy food should not stop just because the education calendar changes.
Support for this program also came from the Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), who called MBG a very important form of social investment. According to AHY, no Indonesian child should be left behind just because of nutritional constraints. He invited all parties, from local governments, social foundations, community organizations, to the private sector, to work together to expand the reach of this program.
AHY also emphasized that this program provides dual benefits. In addition to helping children get balanced nutrition, MBG also drives the local economic sector. By involving farmers, traditional market traders, and MSMEs, this program becomes a new driving force in the economic chain in various regions. Improving the welfare of local communities is an important added value for the sustainability of this program.
The number of MBG beneficiaries that has reached 5.5 million people is proof that this program has received a positive response and is well received by the community. In the future, this number is expected to continue to increase along with the increasing number of SPPGs and MBG public kitchens throughout Indonesia. The government is also accelerating the process of expanding this program to previously unreached areas, so that no child is left behind in terms of fulfilling their basic rights to good nutrition.
MBG is not just about free meals, but also a reflection of the government’s seriousness in ensuring that Indonesian children grow into healthy, intelligent, and competitive individuals. In building a strong next generation of the nation, consistent, inclusive, and sustainable policies such as MBG are key. School holidays are not an excuse to slacken attention to children’s basic needs. It is precisely at times like these that the role of the state as a protector of children’s rights becomes very important and must continue to be strengthened. The MBG program is a symbol of hope and real evidence that Indonesia is serious about building the foundation of a better future.
)* The author is a Public Policy Observer
