Action coordinator says free nutritious meal programme sides with ordinary people and micro businesses
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinator of the Presidium of Volunteers and Sympathisers Supporting the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme, Ahmad Yazdi, expressed hope that the implementation of the MBG programme continues, as it favours the common people, particularly micro-enterprise actors and the partners involved in the programme.
These hopes were conveyed by Ahmad Yazdi during a peaceful demonstration in front of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) office in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, which was attended by hundreds of participants from various regions.
“We remain solid; we are consolidating this movement. The goal is nothing other than ensuring the sustainability of the MBG programme, which favours the small folk,” said Ahmad Yazdi.
He stated that the protest participants included micro-enterprise partners and volunteers who have been part of the MBG programme’s implementation in various regions.
According to him, the participants arrived to convey their aspirations, ensuring that the programme’s implementation continues to provide fair space for small business owners who have participated in supporting the government programme.
“We come as MSME partners who recruit volunteers working as kitchen warriors,” he said.
On this occasion, Ahmad admitted that he continues to respect the process of conveying aspirations, even though the crowd was unable to engage in direct dialogue with the leadership of the BGN.
He believes that the aspirations expressed by the participants have been received by the relevant parties, even though they have not yet received a direct response.
“Indeed, we could not meet them today, but rest assured that what we have voiced has certainly been heard,” he said.
Ahmad also apologised to the participants because their aspirations could not be delivered directly to the BGN leadership during the protest.
He hoped that volunteers would not be discouraged and would maintain order while fighting for their aspirations through peaceful channels.
“We apologise because we were unable to directly convey the grievances of our fellow volunteers during the period when the BGN was on leave yesterday,” he said.
According to Ahmad, his group will continue to consolidate volunteers and MBG implementation partners in various regions to provide constructive input to the government regarding the programme’s execution.
Previously, hundreds of protesters marched from the Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan area to the BGN office in Kebon Sirih.
During the demonstration, they requested a dialogue with the BGN leadership and urged improvements in the governance of the MBG programme’s implementation to ensure its sustainability continues to benefit the wider community, particularly the micro-enterprises serving as programme partners.