Headline:
Indonesia Kicks Off Free Nutritious Meals Program January 6, 2025: 937 Kitchens Across the Nation Ready
Subhead:
Badan Gizi Nasional prepares to serve meals to 3 million individuals, focusing on underprivileged, remote, and negligent (3T) areas.
Article:
JAKARTA – The National Nutrition Agency (Badan Gizi Nasional) is set to launch its Free Nutritious Meals (Makan Bergizi Gratis, MBG) program on January 6, 2025. To facilitate the inauguration, 937 kitchens have been established nationwide.
Badan Gizi Nasional’s Head of Legal and Public Relations Bureau, Lalu Muhammad Iwan Mahardan, stated that these kitchens are not concentrated on Java Island but rather spread across the country, with a heavier presence outside Java. This decision reflects the program’s primary target areas: underprivileged, remote, and negligent (3T) regions.
Mahardan revealed that the initial target recipients include children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers, aiming to benefit a total of 3 million individuals nationwide. Each kitchen is prepared to serve 3,000 to 3,500 beneficiaries, with a focus on students aged five and above, attending kindergarten, elementary, junior high, and high schools, as well as expectant mothers.
The head of Badan Gizi Nasional, Dadan Hindayana, has asserted that the MBG program will indeed commence on January 6, 2025. He has begun preparations to ensure a smooth launch and has mentioned that the program will be rolled out simultaneously across various regions in Indonesia. However, Dadan has yet to disclose the specific locations where the program will first take effect.
"First, I will report to the President," he said briefly.
The National Nutrition Agency’s Free Nutritious Meals program is anticipated to significantly improve the nation’s food security and nutrition, particularly for vulnerable populations.
(Source: Ada, rrd)
Worth a look