The Free Food Program Budget Of IDR 10 Thousand Is Not Enough, PKB Politicians Suggest The Number Of Recipients Reduced

Illustration-(Photo: DOK ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX DPR RI, Zainul Munasichin suggested that the government reduce the number of students receiving the free nutritious food program (MBG) starting tomorrow, Monday, January 6, 2025.

This refers to the nominal MBG budget of IDR 10,000 per portion or decreased from the previously planned IDR 15 thousand due to budget constraints.

"If the government feels a bit heavy per portion, for example Rp. 15 thousand, then actually we have other options, namely, reducing the number of targets," Zainul told reporters, Sunday, January 5.

The government targets MBG recipients ranging from PAUD, SD, SMP, to SMA/equivalent students. According to him, the government can eliminate the MBG program for high school students.

"If the age of SLTA, if the interest in pursuing growth is relatively late. So is it not better for us to focus on age from PAUD to SMP," said Zainul.

"That way, we can maintain the quality of nutritional standards per portion so that it can still be IDR 15 thousand," he added.

Zainul emphasized that the government had not discussed in detail with the Indonesian House of Representatives regarding the proportion of the MBG budget, which has now decreased to Rp10 thousand.

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.

Previously, the MBG program for school students would start on January 6, 2025. President Prabowo Subianto revealed that he actually wanted to budget for the program of Rp. 15,000 per share, but the government considered Rp. 10,000 per portion quite nutritious based on the existing budget.

"We want Rp. 15,000 but the budget condition may be Rp. 10,000 for sufficient areas. It is quite quality and nutritious," said Prabowo, Saturday, November 30, 2024.