BGN: Free Nutritious Meals to continue based on students' school attendance days

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, stated that Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) will continue to be provided in accordance with the number of days students attend school and will stop being distributed during holidays.

This statement was made by Dadan in response to proposals for efficiency in the MBG programme by reducing the number of meal distributions to five days per week, which is estimated to potentially save the state budget up to Rp40 trillion per year.

“Specifically for schoolchildren, MBG will be distributed if they attend school. If school is for five days, they will receive MBG for five days, while if there is a school that operates six days, MBG will be given for six days. Based on the available data, the majority of schools operate for five days,” he said when confirmed by ANTARA via text message in Jakarta on Friday.

Dadan emphasised that in 2026, BGN will focus on improving quality, such as in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s instructions, which is also one of the efforts to maintain the programme’s effectiveness.

“The basis for MBG distribution is fresh ready-to-eat food delivered to the beneficiary locations based on the registered lists. For pregnant women, nursing mothers, and toddlers to posyandu or home, while for students to their respective schools. For santri and other religious schoolchildren to their boarding places. If there is a holiday, then MBG distribution stops,” he explained.

Previously, the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, stated that efficiency in the MBG programme has the potential to save the state budget up to Rp40 trillion per year.

This efficiency is planned by reducing the number of operational days. MBG distribution is proposed to be five days per week from the previous six days.

“Usually a week (MBG) is six days, he (the BGN Head) says five days. So there is also efficiency from MBG, there is quite a significant reduction. He said it could (save) Rp40 trillion a year,” said Finance Minister Purbaya.

According to him, this step shows BGN’s efforts in carrying out budget efficiency amid volatile economic conditions due to global geopolitical conflicts.