The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Sudaryono, has\nrefuted claims that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme is\ndepleting the state budget at the expense of other development projects.\nHe stated that various government priority programmes are still running,\nfrom school repairs and fertiliser subsidies to irrigation\nrevitalisation.<\/p>\n
Sudaryono said the narrative that the state budget has been exhausted\nby MBG does not match the facts on the ground. He cited examples where\nthe government continues to renovate tens of thousands of schools and\nallocate funds to other sectors. \u201cThere is a perception that the state\nbudget is depleted because of MBG. In reality, with MBG, where\nfertiliser was previously insufficient, it is now sufficient. In fact,\nthe price has been discounted by 20%. You can check my social media and\nother media outlets from before I became Head of BGN,\u201d Sudaryono said\nduring a press conference at the BGN Office in Jakarta on Wednesday\n(29\/7\/2026).<\/p>\n
He also highlighted the increased budget for irrigation\nrevitalisation, which continues despite the government running the MBG\nprogramme. \u201cPreviously, there was no such thing as irrigation\nrevitalisation; now there is. I know this from my time at the Ministry\nof Agriculture. Irrigation is being revitalised; last year it was Rp12\ntrillion, this year Rp14 trillion, and it will continue next year. So\nthe irrigation is being sorted out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Sudaryono further revealed that the government is continuing a\nmassive school renovation programme. In 2025, more than 16,000 schools\nwere repaired, and this year the target has increased to over 70,000\nschools, potentially reaching nearly 90,000. \u201cI know this, as I am from\nGrobogan. I have been contacted by many people. The government renovated\nmore than 16,000 schools in 2025. This year, the number to be renovated\nis more than 70,000, and the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education\nhas even mentioned it could be nearly 90,000 schools, directly from the\ncentral government,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
His statement also addressed criticism regarding a damaged school in\nGrobogan located near an MBG kitchen. Sudaryono argued that comparing\nthe condition of the school with the MBG kitchen building is\ninappropriate because they come from different financing schemes. \u201cThe\nschool was damaged long before MBG existed, wasn\u2019t it? Let\u2019s be\nobjective. The school was damaged before the MBG programme. Now, the\nPresident is fixing it. So it\u2019s quite simple: if you find a damaged\nschool, just report it. There is a portal at the Ministry of Primary and\nSecondary Education, and it will definitely be repaired. It\u2019s not fair\nto compare. We\u2019ve already repaired 16,000, and now we\u2019re repairing\n70,000,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Sudaryono assessed that the narrative comparing damaged schools with\nMBG kitchens creates a misleading impression among the public. \u201cWhen one\nis damaged, especially if the MBG kitchen next door is shiny, clean, and\nblue, and then they are compared, I think that is unfair. But that\u2019s\nfine, it\u2019s part of the dynamics of our democracy, no problem,\u201d Sudaryono\nsaid.<\/p>\n
According to him, BGN\u2019s task is to ensure that MBG kitchens meet\nstandards of cleanliness, food safety, and nutritional quality to\npositively impact children\u2019s health. \u201cBGN is clearly focused on our duty\nas a nutrition agency, ensuring the kitchens are clean, hygienic, and\nsafe, the food is good, nutritious, and hopefully tasty, with the right\nnutritional content, and liked by children. The children finish their\nmeals, and then the impact and outcome is that the children become\nhealthy, free from stunting, and have good growth. Regarding the damaged\nschool in Grobogan, I think you can check, it has been followed up,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Sudaryono also urged the public to report any damaged educational\nfacilities they find without linking them to the construction of MBG\nkitchens. \u201cI want to invite all of us not to stir up the issue. If you\nfind a damaged school, just take a photo of the damaged school and\nreport it, and do not compare it with the MBG kitchen. Because they are\nnot connected, I apologise. The MBG kitchen is built by partners, and\nthere is already a scheme for it. Meanwhile, school repairs are two\ndifferent things. Do not make it seem like there is a contradiction. I\napologise, but that is not fair. But it is okay,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bgn-chief-denies-free-nutritious-meal-programme-drains-state-budget-1785325982", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }