BGN Emphasizes Not Forcing Students to Take MBG During School Holidays

Archive - Deputy Head of BGN Nanik Sudaryati Deyang during a joint activity with SPPG in Lumajang, East Java, on Saturday (13/12/2025). ANTARA/HO-BGN

JAKARTA - Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Nanik Sudaryati Deyang emphasized that his party did not force students to take Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) during school holidays and denied that the provision of MBG during holidays was forced to spend the budget.

"So children are not forced to come to school. Please take MBG if the mother, father, or brother takes it. If the school does not want to accept it, the parents do not want it, then it is also okay, and it is not forced. So, no one is forcing children to take a day off from school to take MBG. Please do not twist it," said Nanik confirmed in Jakarta, Antara, Tuesday, December 23.

BGN is aware that improving the nutrition of students does require consistency, but BGN understands that school children are entering the holiday season.

Therefore, the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) offers schools that are beneficiaries, if they want to receive MBG, they are welcome to apply.

"MBG dishes will be delivered by SPPG according to the school's request, in the form of dry food," he said.

Nanik also straightened out the allegations of some circles who said that the provision of MBG during the holidays was to spend the budget.

"Quite the contrary, we save the budget because it is extraordinary in 2025, imagine, the MBG budget this year is Rp. 71 trillion, the target is for 6 million beneficiaries consisting of schoolchildren and pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, toddlers (3B), but it turns out we can benefit 50 million Indonesian children and the 3B group," he explained.

According to him, savings can be made because originally there were many kitchens that had to be built by BGN, but many foundations or partners who want to build MBG kitchens which are called Independent Kitchens.

"Finally, the cost that BGN spent was only for the MBG program of Rp. 15 thousand per meal; the salaries of BGN employees, including the head of SPPG, nutritionists, and accountants, which are currently almost 100 thousand and spread from Sabang to Merauke; and also for operations. The data I have conveyed can be checked to the Ministry of Finance," said Nanik.

Nanik emphasized that the government continues to work hard to improve the nutrition of Indonesian children in accordance with President Prabowo's message, namely that there should not be a single Indonesian child who does not receive MBG.

"Both school-age children who are on the streets, People's Schools, children in pesantren boarding schools, both those registered with the Ministry of Religion and those who are not registered, all must be able to eat nutritious food for free," he said.

Meanwhile, the news regarding the provision of MBG for the elderly and the disabled, according to Nanik, who will provide free meals is the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos).

"The program is still being discussed by the Ministry of Social Affairs, so it's not a BGN program," said Nanik S. Deyang.