Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Agustina\nArumsari, stated that her institution will refocus or reorganise the\nbeneficiaries of the free nutritious meal programme (MBG). The policy\naims to ensure beneficiaries are accurately targeted while also\nachieving state budget efficiency.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the improvement measures we are undertaking is the refocusing\nof beneficiaries,\u201d Arumsari said following a closed-door meeting with\nHouse of Representatives Commission IX on Monday, 15 June 2026.<\/p>\n
For the coming year, BGN has been allocated a budget of Rp 270.2\ntrillion to reach 81.5 million beneficiaries. However, this figure will\nstill be evaluated as the agency proceeds with its overhaul process.<\/p>\n
BGN has coordinated with the Ministry of Health and several other\nministries to determine the groups of beneficiaries most in need. The\nMinistry of Health, she said, has provided input that nutritional\ninterventions should be given to parents during pregnancy up to the\nchild\u2019s first thousand days of life. During that period, brain volume\ncan be maximised. \u201cThen up to two years there will be nutritional\nintervention, and then onwards to subsequent ages.\u201d<\/p>\n
BGN is currently reviewing beneficiary groups so that this government\nprogramme is more accurately targeted without diminishing its primary\ngoal of improving public nutritional quality. \u201cThe objective is how to\nensure the indicators for the nutritional intervention goals are\nachieved, but with more focused beneficiaries,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
One of the measures for reorganising beneficiaries, Arumsari said, is\nremoving senior high school (SMA) students from affluent families as a\npriority for MBG recipients. \u201cThat will already reduce the number by\naround 8 million beneficiaries,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n
Arumsari emphasised that the reorganisation of MBG recipients is\nbeing carried out to ensure government assistance truly reaches groups\nin need. In addition to adjusting beneficiaries, BGN will also evaluate\nits nutritional fulfilment service units (SPPG), or MBG kitchens, as a\nconsequence of the changes to the programme\u2019s targets.<\/p>\n
According to Arumsari, the kitchen reorganisation will be conducted\nafter the beneficiary data has been updated. Some SPPGs may potentially\nbe merged or even closed if audit results show they are not fit to\noperate.<\/p>\n
BGN is also utilising the school holiday period to temporarily halt\nprogramme operations in schools and carry out comprehensive\nimprovements, including validation of beneficiary data and evaluation of\nkitchen quality. \u201cWe will stop everything, we will update all kitchens,\nso that hopefully when the children return to school, we will be in a\nbetter state, and conditions on the ground will be more orderly,\u201d\nArumsari said.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, BGN will scrutinise various 2026 budget items and\nmaximise the use of assets purchased in 2025, including operational\nsupport facilities and information technology.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Arumsari stressed that the entire efficiency and\nrefocusing process is still under discussion and has not yet become a\nfinal decision, as it must still be consulted with the Ministry of\nFinance and the National Development Planning Agency. \u201cWe will continue\nto discuss. But what is clear is that there will be further efficiency\nmeasures,\u201d she said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/national-nutrition-agency-to-refocus-free-meal-programme-beneficiaries-1781574762", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }