Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto’s free nutritious meal program is facing increasing scrutiny over its substantial cost and implementation challenges. The program, launched on January 6 of last year to combat stunting, currently represents 8.7 percent of the total state budget – Rp 335 trillion – for the current year.
Rapid Expansion and Rising Costs
What began as a pilot program serving approximately 570,000 children from 190 kitchens has rapidly expanded to over 17,000 kitchens nationwide, providing meals to nearly 50.4 million recipients as of December 15. This expansion has been backed by Rp 71 trillion (US$4.25 billion) in funding, though absorption reached only 81 percent by year’s end. President Subianto intends to further expand the program in 2026, aiming to reach 83 million people.
Competing Priorities and Concerns Over Funding
The program’s massive budget is drawing criticism from some who argue it represents misplaced priorities. Researcher Isnawati Hidayah of the Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS) stated that other critical policies remain underfunded while the free meals program has yet to demonstrate clear benefits. A CELIOS survey of over 1,700 respondents indicated that most parents do not believe the program has eased household expenses.
Funding is also being diverted from other key areas, particularly education. Approximately Rp 223 trillion of the program’s total allocation comes from the education budget, representing almost 30 percent of the total education budget of Rp 757.8 trillion. This has led to concerns about inequalities within the education system, as free meals delivery drivers can earn significantly more than some teachers with bachelor’s degrees.
Food Safety and Governance Challenges
The program has also been plagued by food safety issues, with mass food poisoning incidents affecting around 12,000 students between August and October. While President Subianto acknowledged shortcomings, he maintained that these incidents represented a small fraction – “0.00017 percent” – of total recipients. The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has since tightened food safety protocols, reporting a decrease in incidents from 85 in October to just four in the first two weeks of December.
However, experts warn that the recent presidential regulation addressing food safety does not go far enough to address deeper governance issues. Concerns remain that a lack of firm standards could lead to a focus on profit over public service as the program expands, potentially increasing the risk of future incidents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary goal of the free nutritious meal program?
The program was launched to help address stunting in Indonesia by providing free nutritious meals to students, infants, and pregnant women.
How much of the state budget is currently allocated to the program?
The free meals program has been allocated Rp 335 trillion this year, equivalent to 8.7 percent of the total state budget.
What concerns have been raised regarding the program’s impact on the education sector?
Approximately Rp 223 trillion of the program’s funding comes from the education budget, leading to concerns about reduced resources for teachers’ welfare and other educational priorities.
As the program continues to expand, it remains to be seen whether the government can address these concerns and ensure the program delivers on its intended benefits while maintaining food safety and responsible resource allocation.
