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Headline: Jakarta’s ‘Makan Bergizi Gratis’ Program: Fueling Students with Nutritious Meals

Subhead: Thousands of students in Jakarta are beneficiaries of the government’s ‘Makan Bergizi Gratis’ program, providing them with free, nutritious meals before classes begin.

Body:

In the bustling capital of Jakarta, a unique initiative is transforming the daily lives of thousands of students. The ‘Makan Bergizi Gratis’ (MBG) program, part of Indonesia’s Rapid Best Results program (PHTC), has started dishing out free, nutritious meals to students in various schools across the city.

The day begins early for the MBG team. Two dedicated staff members at the Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi (SPPG) in Palmerah, West Jakarta, diligently prepare thousands of meal boxes. The protocol is simple yet effective: nutritious meals are packed into stainless steel boxes and loaded onto waiting white mobilization boxes. The first stop is usually the nearest school, such as SDN Slipi 15, just a kilometer away from the SPPG.

Upon arrival, SPPG staff unload the meal boxes, which are then distributed to the respective classes by the school’s teachers. In one of the classrooms at SDN Slipi 15, 2nd grader Puluhan sits ready for their morning lesson, dressed in their bright scout uniform. Their teacher, Suriadin, pauses the lesson, asking students to put away their books and prepare to eat.

"Today’s breakfast is nasi, telur orak-arik, kacang panjang and wortel, susu UHT, and a pisang," Suriadin announces, handing out the meal boxes. One student, after opening their box, looks up triumphantly, "There’s pudding too!"

While some students dive into their meals excitedly, others take their time, exploring each item cautiously. Perspiration builds on Suriadin’s forehead as he ensures every student is catered to, even fetching extra cutlery for those who forgot to bring their own.

When asked about the program, Yulius, the headmaster of SDN 15, highlights its merits: "We introduce the concept of breakfast with a balanced nutritional composition to optimize learning outcomes. We’ve done some trial runs since last November, and since then, every one of our 380 students has received a meal package every day."

The MBG program is not confined to elementary schools alone. SMPN 1 Barunawati, a nearby junior high school, also benefits from the initiative. Here, the meals are received and temporarily stored in a dedicated room before being distributed to the classrooms. Students tuck into their meals with enthusiasm, leaving mostly their vegetables untouched but enthusiastically consuming the nasinya and siusnya.

Hadijah, the headmaster of SMPN 1 Barunawati, praises the program. "This half-hour meal supports the students’ ability to focus and engage in their lessons," she says. "We’ve noticed that students are more eager to try the vegetables now, too."

Funded with an Rp71 trillion allocation, the Makan Bergizi Gratis program is currently active in 26 provinces, covering 190 locations nationwide. Kementerian Pekerjaan Umum dan Perumahan Rakyat (PUPR) and Badan Usaha Milik Negara (BUMN) have joined forces to make this program a reality, aiming to reach 20 million students across Indonesia before the end of 2023.

As the school bell rings, signaling the end of breakfast time, students rush to return their empty meal boxes. The MBG program may have just started, but it’s already creating a tangible impact in the lives of these young Indonesians, helping to fuel their minds and bodies for a day of learning and growth.