Starting Tomorrow, Legislators Ask For A Nutritious Food Budget Per Portion Of IDR 10 Thousand Must Be Re-discussed

Illustration of free nutritious meals at school (Photo: Doc Antara)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the PKB faction, Zainul Munasichin, doubts that the smooth running of the free nutritious eating program (MBG) with a budget of IDR 10,000 per share in schools officially started tomorrow, Monday, January 6, 2025.

According to Zainul, the MBG budget set by the central government needs to be re-discussed with the DPR. Because, according to him, this is related to the fulfillment of the nutritional content of the students who are the targets of the program.

"In my opinion, the Rp10 thousand budget must be re-discussed, because this concerns the minimum nutritional standards that must be in one portion," Zainul told reporters, Sunday, January 5.

Zainul emphasized that the government has not discussed in detail with the Indonesian House of Representatives regarding the proportion of the MBG budget which was previously planned for IDR 15 thousand per portion and has now decreased to IDR 10,000.

He is worried that nutritious food at a price of Rp. 10,000 per serving is not enough to meet children's nutritional needs.

"We have a note, our calculations are that Rp. 10,000 per serving does not seem to have entered. If the milk is put in, that's not enough, it's a budget of Rp. 10,000," said the member of the PKB faction of the DPR RI.

"Especially for certain areas, areas outside Java may be more expensive for basic carbohydrates and also for vegetables," he added.

Previously, the MBG program for school students would begin January 6, 2025.

Minister of Cooperatives (Menkop) Budi Arie said, as many as 1,923 cooperatives will become suppliers of raw materials for the MBG program.

This was conveyed after attending a limited meeting (ratas) chaired by President Prabowo Subianto at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Friday, January 3.

"There are 1,923 cooperatives that are ready to be involved in part of the supporting for free nutritious meals," said Budi.

A number of cooperatives that will be moved for the Free Nutrition Food program include vegetable cooperatives, fish cooperatives, rice cooperatives, to egg cooperatives and dairy cooperatives.

In addition to cooperatives, the government will also cooperate with Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) to make the program a success.

"Assisting, for example, cooperative egg breeders, helping to provide eggs. Including villages as well, BUMDes has prepared everything, we are in 29 provinces," he explained.