{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1641783,
        "msgid": "indonesias-bgn-to-maintain-six-day-mbg-rollout-in-priority-regions-1774785089",
        "date": "2026-03-29 18:18:44",
        "title": "Indonesia's BGN to maintain six-day MBG rollout in priority regions",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_EN",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Social Policy",
        "summary": "Indonesia's National Food Agency (BGN) head, Dadan Hindayana, has confirmed that the free meals programme (MBG) will continue to be distributed six days a week in priority 3T regions and areas highly vulnerable to stunting, despite proposals to reduce it to five days for budget efficiency. The agency will use data from the 2024 Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey, in collaboration with local education and health offices, to target regions in Sumatra and eastern Indonesia accurately. This approach aims to ensure daily nutrition for children, supporting public health and long-term human capital development, even as the government seeks to save over US$2.3 billion annually amid geopolitical economic pressures.",
        "content": "<p>BGN Head Dadan Hindayana confirmed this plan in a statement cited\nhere on Sunday amid a discourse on reducing weekly MBG distribution to\nfive times for students in pursuit of budget efficiency.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMBG will be supplied across six school days, from Monday to\nSaturday, in 3T regions and those deemed highly vulnerable to stunting.\nThis move is a strategic step toward ensuring that children receive\nadequate nutrition daily,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>With that in view, he emphasized the importance of compiling accurate\ndata on regions requiring the special approach. BGN intends to primarily\nrefer to the Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey 2024 by the Ministry\nof Health to determine priority regions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur team will work together with local offices of education and\nhealth to ensure data accuracy so that MBG reaches those in need,\u201d\nHindayana said, noting that the agency aims to focus on regions in\nSumatra and eastern Indonesia.<\/p>\n<p>He further elaborated that the data collection will cover the numbers\nof schools and students, along with stunting prevalence rates in each\nregion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cData integrity is of the essence because the MBG program is oriented\ntoward public health and the future of our youngsters. We cannot afford\nto leave any child behind in this agenda,\u201d he affirmed.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa pointed out that\nIndonesia could save more than US$2.3 billion annually through\nefficiency measures for the MBG program, proposed as part of the\ngovernment\u2019s deliberations to shield the nation from economic pressures\nstemming from souring geopolitics.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBGN has proposed reducing MBG distribution to five days from the\nusual six per week to generate significant savings,\u201d he said in Jakarta\non Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>The BGN chief confirmed the proposal on Friday, underscoring that MBG\ndistribution for students would be adjusted to school schedules.<\/p>\n<p>Related news: Free meals distribution adjusted to school schedules:\nBGN chief<\/p>\n<p>Related news: Minister calls MBG program game changer for Indonesia\u2019s\neconomy<\/p>\n<p>Related news: BRIN pushes livestock research to support free meals\nprogram<\/p>\n<p>Translator: Lintang Budiyanti, Tegar Nurfitra<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesias-bgn-to-maintain-six-day-mbg-rollout-in-priority-regions-1774785089",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}