Indonesia's free meals programme reaches more than 57 million people
State budget spending reached Rp153.2 trillion by September 30, while authorities suspended 1,276 kitchens lacking hygiene and sanitation certificates.
More than 57 million people had received meals under Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme by September 30, according to Kurnia Ramadhana, deputy for partnerships and media relations at the Government Communications Agency.
Ramadhana said 27,486 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs) across 38 provinces served beneficiaries, including toddlers, students, breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women. The government aims to expand coverage to 72,464,886 people in 2027.
Spending from the state budget stood at Rp153.2 trillion as of September 30, representing 66.9 per cent of the Rp229 trillion allocation. Alongside the expansion, Ramadhana said the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) had temporarily halted operations at 1,276 kitchens that lacked hygiene and sanitation certificates.
In Natuna, Riau Islands, BGN inaugurated nine service units, taking the district's total to 14. The newly inaugurated facilities have not started operating. Natuna is classified as a frontier, disadvantaged and outermost area.
The programme began on January 6, 2025. BGN head Sudaryono said buffet-style meals for students were being tested in locations including Java, Aceh, Palembang and frontier, disadvantaged and outermost areas. The agency aims for as many as 5,000 SPPGs to use that serving format by the end of 2026.
