Nutrition Lunch Budget Allocation Asked Not To Be A Field Of Corruption

Economist Aviliani (Photo: Aris Nurjani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Senior Economist of the Institute for Development of Economic and Finance (Indef) Aviliani assessed that the budget allocation of IDR 71 trillion for the Free Nutrition Food program by the Ministry of Finance must be prepared even though the current government will not cover 100 percent of the budget needs of the free nutritious food program.

"Yes, maybe because that's the new government's plan, like it or not, the Minister of Finance must accommodate. It was only Rp. 400 trillion, right, but in the end they said it was gradual," he said after the Financial Education event of BUNDAKU OJK, Tuesday, June 25.

According to him, if the current government immediately disburses a budget of IDR 400 trillion, investors will question the budget again which is only used for consumptive needs.

"If it is Rp400 trillion, investors must have questioned it, if the budget is mostly used for consumptive things, it will be their question for the multipliers of economic effects and it will also have an impact on the bonds sold by the government, right," he said.

Aviliani said that in the current era, information disclosure is needed by the community so that the budget needs for a nutritious lunch program can be known by investors and see the seriousness and targets of the new government in carrying out their programs.

"So, I think the Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati is actually experiencing this openness, saying that at least the budget was conveyed first, although not in the amount of Rp. 400 trillion, in reality what must be shown is the seriousness of there are targets to be achieved," he added.

According to Aviliani, do not let the budget allocation prepared for a nutritious lunch program become a field of corruption.

"Don't give me lunch, but in the end there will be more corruption," he said.

In addition, Aviliani assessed that the management of the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) in 2025 will be heavy because there is a fairly large debt due next year.

According to Aviliani, currently there should be details regarding the nutritious lunch program to be put on the ministry/institution and how the system is spread to the community so that investors have the confidence to invest in Indonesia again.

"Because actually, if possible, we can convey what the real clue will be like in August. So this is also so that investors can re-enter. Now a lot of people are out because of that. At least we make a plan, if it's just an assumption, there are no numbers yet," he said.

"Then if eating free, it becomes a protest for many people related to the funds that we don't have much. But for that, for example, how about it gradually, for example," he added.