BRIN Researcher Recommends Gradual, Data-Based Evaluation of Free Nutritious Meal Programme

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Researcher Yanu Endar Prasetyo from the National Research and Innovation Agency’s (BRIN) Population Research Centre has welcomed the National Nutrition Agency’s (BGN) willingness to evaluate and reorganise the management of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme. In an interview at the ANTARA Heritage Center, Jakarta, on Wednesday, Yanu viewed the government and BGN’s openness to public aspirations as a positive signal for policy improvement. However, he cautioned that future improvements to this national-scale programme must be based on objectively measurable indicators, not merely subjective labelling. “A programme this large cannot use subjective indicators like rich schools or poor schools. The indicators must be objective; what exactly defines a rich school? What defines a poor school? What defines a 3T (frontier, outermost, disadvantaged) region?” he stated. He believes the government already possesses various strategic data sets. The next challenge is integrating and consolidating this data into a single transparent system so that programme distribution is truly well-targeted. Furthermore, the BRIN researcher, who has been involved in social research for 17 years, also highlighted the initial programme design, which he considered too rushed in pursuing a universal scale simultaneously, resulting in the current need to narrow its coverage. “Whereas, in terms of public policy and programme design, it should target first, then gradually approach universal coverage. This is the right momentum to reorganise,” he said. Through improvements to the database and well-planned targeting, Yanu is optimistic that President Prabowo Subianto’s noble goal of providing the benefits of nutritious meals to all Indonesian children can ultimately be realised comprehensively and sustainably.