Simultaneous Action by Central and Regional Governments to Realize Free Nutritious Meals
By: Ricky RInaldi
The Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Program is now the government’s main concern as an effort to build the nation’s future from the most basic foundation: children’s health and nutrition. The central government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri), called for joint action by all regional governments (pemda) to make this program a success. Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian said that the success of MBG is not only the responsibility of the center, but must involve the regions actively and with full sincerity.
Tito emphasized that regional governments play an important role because they are at the forefront of public services. Regional governments are asked to prepare accurate data, prepare appropriate budgets, and coordinate with related ministries and institutions. According to him, data accuracy is crucial so that the distribution of nutritious food is right on target and there is no excess or shortage of supply. In addition, he also emphasized the importance of regional governments preparing supporting facilities such as public kitchens, cooking staff, and a clean and efficient food distribution system. In this case, the quality and sustainability of the program are highly dependent on thorough preparation at the regional level.
The MBG program is not just about providing food, but also about building a sustainable ecosystem. Therefore, Tito encourages collaboration between local governments and various elements of society. Local governments are expected to work together with cooperatives, farmer groups, and MSMEs in their areas to supply healthy and nutritious local food ingredients. This will not only ensure the sustainability of the supply of quality nutrition, but also have a positive impact on the local economy. According to Tito, the success of this program depends on the ability of the region to utilize local potential, which will also strengthen food security at the regional level.
The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, also voiced his full support for the MBG program. In his statement in early May, the President emphasized that the program would continue to be implemented even without assistance or recognition from outside parties. The President is of the view that this program is the right step because it is a real form of state investment in the next generation. He also said that reducing poverty and improving community nutrition are priorities that cannot be postponed. In Prabowo’s view, the state must focus more on eradicating fundamental problems such as malnutrition, which hinder children’s potential to develop and achieve a better future.
The President assessed that the success of the MBG program would depend greatly on the sustainability and consistency of its implementation. He emphasized that despite challenges in the field, such as distribution problems and difficulties in remote areas, the program must continue with high enthusiasm and determination. Prabowo also said that the government would continue to strive to improve the quality of distribution and supervision so that there would be no misappropriation that would harm people in need. He believed that despite obstacles, with good synergy between the central and regional governments, the program would be able to overcome the problems of poverty and malnutrition that have been problems in many regions.
Responding to a number of technical incidents in the field, such as cases of food poisoning in several regions, the President assessed that these incidents were local in nature and did not represent the overall implementation of the program. He emphasized the importance of evaluation and improvement, but it should not be the case that one or two cases hamper a national program with such broad benefits. Prabowo added that the government continues to work to ensure the quality and safety of food distributed to children in schools and other communities. According to him, program evaluation is very important to correct existing deficiencies, and the government is ready to provide the necessary corrective measures.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs continues to build synergy with other ministries, such as the Ministry of Education, Health, and Social Affairs, so that the implementation of MBG runs efficiently and there is no budget overlap. Tito said that this program concerns the basic rights of children and must be a priority in regional budget planning. He reminded that the allocation of funds for MBG should not be positioned as an additional project, but rather as part of the main strategy for human development. Tito also reminded that the budget allocated for this program should not only be used for the short term, but must also consider the sustainability of the program in the future.
