Government Continues to Run MBG Program During Ramadan
JAKARTA – The government ensures that the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program will continue to run during Ramadan, which is estimated to fall on March 1, 2025.
Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana emphasized that this program will adjust its implementation scheme so that it remains effective in meeting the nutritional needs of children in schools.
“Children still go to school, then go home with food to eat when breaking the fast for Muslims. For those who are not fasting, they still receive it but are advised to consume it at home to respect their friends who are fasting,” said Dadan.
Acting. Director of Budget for Human Development and Humanity, Diah Dwi Utami said the MBG program is one of President Prabowo Subianto’s priorities which aims to improve the nutritional quality of children to support their growth and cognitive development.
“This program is very important for building a healthy and intelligent young generation. Access to adequate nutrition can improve academic achievement and productivity in the future,” said Diah.
He added that nutritional problems are still a serious challenge in Indonesia, including the triple burden of malnutrition which includes undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies. The government has allocated IDR 71 trillion from the 2025 State Budget to support the sustainability of the MBG program. IDR 51.5 trillion is allocated for food, while the rest is used for operational and technical expenses.
“This budget allocation ensures the sustainability of the program and creates a real impact in overcoming nutritional problems. The President targets all Indonesian children to be able to access free nutritious food by the end of 2025,” he added.
As a form of the government’s seriousness in implementing the MBG program, the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Gibran Rakabuming Raka actively monitored its implementation at SMPN 11 and SMAN 4 Depok, West Java.
The Vice President stated that the MBG program was running well and was enthusiastically received by students.
“Earlier I saw the children quite heartily eating today’s menu. If there is an evaluation, please submit it. The BGN team is also ready to follow up,” he said.
By continuing the MBG program during Ramadan, the government is committed to ensuring that all Indonesian children get adequate access to nutrition to support their growth and development. This program is expected to not only improve children’s health, but also encourage broader social and economic welfare.
The MBG program also involves various state institutions and community organizations such as the TNI, Polri, BIN, NU, and Muhammadiyah.
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