Jakarta \u2014 The Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) for\nCommunications and Investigations, Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, has stressed\nthat the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Programme was never designed as a\nbusiness venture. It was born from President Prabowo Subianto\u2019s concern\nfor society, particularly the poor.<\/p>\n
According to Nanik, the idea originated from Prabowo\u2019s personal\nexperience in 2012, when he witnessed the conditions in Cilincing, North\nJakarta, where residents scavenged leftovers from factory workers to\ntake home and eat with their families.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrabowo was very angry at that time. From there his determination\narose that if ever entrusted with the presidency, he would ensure that\ncitizens, especially children, receive decent meals. So Prabowo regards\nMBG as not a business orientation,\u201d Nanik said at a workshop titled\nStrengthening Communication Strategy and Public Relations Implementation\nin Jakarta, Saturday (7\/3).<\/p>\n
She added that MBG is designed as a social and humanitarian\ninvestment. In the initial deployment phase, the government opened\npartnership opportunities for organisations wishing to participate in\nMBG kitchen services, with priority given to foundations active in\neducation, social work, and religious affairs.<\/p>\n
According to Nanik, the policy aims that social organisations which\nhave long helped the community also receive support to improve their\nfacilities. \u201cAt the outset, partners had to be in the form of CVs or\nPTs, but they must be foundations. The foundations must be in education,\nsocial, or religious fields. Why? Because at the time Prabowo believed\nthese foundations were already serving the country but lacked funds;\nthus incentives could be used to repair their dormitories, their\nschools, since meals were already funded by the state,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
However, as it evolved, Nanik acknowledged that some parties\nexploited the opportunity by setting up foundations solely to run MBG\nkitchens. Some even managed numerous MBG kitchens with a business\norientation.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut what happened was unforeseen. By June or July, it was still on\ntrack. Most were genuinely non-profit foundations. But then, because the\nPresident was out and about, \u2018Sir, when MBG?\u2019, the target became very\nhigh and foundations proliferated; many people owned more than one\nkitchen,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She warned that such conditions could foster envy and undermine the\nprogramme\u2019s original spirit. In some cases, she said, kitchen management\nbecame profit-oriented, with facilities and standard operating\nprocedures neglected.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of ownership, these kitchens triggered envy because they\nwere not run by social, educational, or religious foundations. Instead\nentrepreneurs posing as Foundations emerged due to the business\norientation. Consequently, rooms were neglected, air conditioning was\nhard to obtain, and when equipment broke, replacement was avoided for\nfinancial reasons,\u201d Nanik added.<\/p>\n
Therefore, Nanik said she would continue evaluating all MBG partners.\nThe cooperation contracts with partners, she said, are effectively for\none year and can be extended based on evaluation results.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey forget that the contract is only for one year and can be\nextended. That means we can end cooperation at any time. We will\nreaffirm that MBG is not a business but a humanitarian programme, a\nsocial investment. If anyone\u2019s mind is only on money, we will remove\nthem. There will come a time when they end because we will evaluate,\nevaluate, evaluate continually,\u201d she stressed.<\/p>\n
Nanik also reminded Heads of the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units\n(SPPG) to run the programme in accordance with the technical guidelines\nand standard operating procedures that have been set.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you, as SPPG heads, must operate within the proper framework.\nImplement the guidance, follow the SOP,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n
Separately, 492 Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) in Sumatra\nwere temporarily closed or suspended from 9 March 2026 with no end\ndate.<\/p>\n
PBNU launched 41 SPPG NU units based at Pondok Pesantren Darul Qur\u2019an\nBengkel, Labuapi, West Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
The National Nutrition Agency is also empowering inmates at\nPurwakarta Prison to become farmers to supply MBG\u2019s raw materials.<\/p>\n
Nanik urged regional heads in regencies and cities to support local\nfood supply for MBG kitchens, and lauded the DIY Provincial Government\u2019s\nplan to establish the Lumbung Mataram scheme in villages as suppliers of\nMBG ingredients.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bgn-reminds-partners-mbg-programme-is-not-a-business-venture-1772895422", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }