BGN Targets 82.9 Million Free Nutritious Meals by May 2026

Free meal illustration (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) targets the beneficiaries of the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) to reach 82.9 million people by May 2026. This target targets school employees, students, to street children who have not been registered.

The expansion of the scope of the program to achieve this target is expected to be realized by May 2026. Deputy Head of BGN, Nanik S. Deyang revealed that the target for recipients had been included in government regulations.

"Insyaallah in terms of numbers, even though we are targeting May, by May the beneficiaries could reach 82.9 million people. That is the initial target listed in PP 115," said Nanik at SMK Negeri 1 Jakarta, Thursday, January 8.

This is in accordance with the direction of President Prabowo Subianto, who wants nutritional fulfillment efforts to be the right of all Indonesian children. This also includes students at pesantren, residents of orphanages, to street children.

"The President wants to emphasize that nutrition is the right of Indonesian children. So, wherever children are, whether in pondok that are registered with the Ministry of Religion or not, they will still benefit," he said.

He revealed that his agency also increased the coverage of recipients at each school. Later, teachers and educators as well as nursery school teachers will also receive MBG quotas.

"Including children who are currently not accommodated in the People's School, they will also receive additional benefits from the MBG Program," said Nanik.

Previously, BGN noted that the one-year achievement of the MBG Program exceeded the target. The program, which initially targeted 6 million beneficiaries in 2025, managed to reach 55.1 million people.