Headline:
Clearing Up the Rumors: National Nutrition Agency (Badan Gizi Nasional) Refutes Reports on Mandatory Purchase of Containers for Free Balanced Meals
Subhead:
BGN reassures parents and guardians that the free balanced meals program is entirely funded by the agency and no additional fees are required.
Article:
The National Nutrition Agency (Badan Gizi Nasional – BGN) has clarified misleading information circulating on social media regarding the alleged mandatory purchase of containers for the free balanced meals program. In a statement released on Tuesday (24/12),BGN’s Head of Legal and Public Relations Bureau, RILalu Muhammad Iwan Mahardan, stated that the rumors are unfounded and fabricated.
"Our free balanced meals program, which is conducted at schools across the country, is fully funded by the Badan Gizi Nasional. Neither students nor their parents or guardians are charged any amount for this initiative," Lalu explained.
Stressing that the program aims to support the nutritional needs of children without burdening their families, Lalu reiterated that the funds allocated for the program are sufficient to cover all necessary expenses, including food, utensils, and other related costs.
"All preparations for this program, including meal utensils, have been adequately addressed by the event organizers to ensure the smooth and fair implementation of the program for all students," Lalu added.
The BGN further clarified that it condemns any form of additional charges levied on students or their families, emphasizing that such practices are against the official policy set by the agency. The misinformation, which included videos alleging the mandatory purchase of containers for the program, had gone viral on several social media platforms, with one TikTok video by user @ahmd.lhan6 receiving over 3.2 million views.
The captivating video depicted a meeting between parents and school representatives, where parents were supposedly instructed to buy containers for their children to participate in the free balanced meals program. The containers were reportedly priced at Rp30,000 each, making it Rp60,000 per student.
In response to these rumors, BGN affirms its commitment to providing free, balanced meals to students without imposing undue financial burdens on their families. The agency urges the public to verify information sources and avoid spreading false news that could negatively impact the program’s objectives and beneficiaries.
Source: CNN Indonesia
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