One Year into Government, Free Nutritional Meals Becomes a Realization of the Vision of Golden Indonesia 2045

JAKARTA – The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, emphasized that the Free Nutritional Meals (MBG) program is key to achieving the vision of Golden Indonesia 2045. This is especially true since nutritious food is provided to children from poor families, who are expected to constitute the majority of the population in the next 20 years.

Dadana echoed President Prabowo’s statement that free nutritious meals are an investment in future human resources (HR) to create a healthy and golden generation.

“Considering that Indonesia’s population is currently growing at 6 people per minute, or 3 million per year, and will continue to grow, reaching 324 million by 2045,” he explained.

According to existing statistics, Indonesia’s population is supported by a generation whose parents only received 9 years of education. Dadan cited the example of the average parental education in West Java equivalent to elementary school, which demonstrates the importance of improving the quality of family education.

This group, Dadan continued, is a major contributor to Indonesia’s population growth, with a high birth rate. “Because the number of poor households with incomes below Rp 1.2 million per month is 4.78. This means that if there are 100 poor families, 78 families have three children, and 22 families have two children,” Dadan explained.

To strengthen the MBG program in the field, especially among the lower-middle class, the National Development Planning Agency (BGN) continues to conduct outreach in the field. Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), which oversees health, employment, and social security, is also playing a role.

For example, in Depok, Commission IX member Nuroji attended the outreach directly and provided education to the community. He emphasized the importance of the MBG program’s sustainability in developing superior human resources. Furthermore, MBG is a policy innovation that favors the poor, with a direct impact on reducing stunting rates and improving community welfare.

“This is not just a free meal program, but a long-term investment for the nation’s future, moving toward Golden Indonesia 2045,” said Nuroji.

In Bandung, Netty Prasetiyani, a member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, stated that the MBG program is a strategic step to build a healthy and competitive generation, moving toward Golden Indonesia 2045.

“Well-nourished children will grow up healthy, able to think critically, and ready to contribute to the nation’s future,” Netty concluded during the socialization.