Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs: Praise be to God, 7 Million Santri Benefit from Free Nutritious Meals Programme

Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Romo Muhammad Syafi’i, stated that millions of santri across Indonesia have received benefits from the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. This is one of the priority programmes implemented by President Prabowo Subianto’s administration through the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). According to the Deputy Minister, the number of beneficiaries is the latest estimate following data synchronisation by the Ministry of Religious Affairs for recipients in pesantren environments and religious educational institutions. “We assume that today, pesantren that have received benefits are approaching 50 percent. If we say there are around 15 million santri and educational staff, then about seven million have received MBG benefits. Praise be to God,” said Romo Syafi’i in Jakarta on Monday (11/5/2026). He explained that previously, data for pesantren beneficiaries had not been fully accounted for because the data system separated madrasah and general school categories. However, he noted, many educational institutions such as primary schools, junior high schools, senior high schools, kindergartens, and vocational schools located within pesantren environments had not yet been categorised as part of the santri ecosystem for MBG benefits. “Now we have agreed that whatever the form of education, including vocational schools, if the students are santri and located in a pesantren environment, they are included in the santri group,” he said. Syafi’i emphasised that the Ministry of Religious Affairs fully supports the MBG programme initiated by President Prabowo Subianto. According to him, the government is accelerating the distribution of MBG benefits in pesantren environments by providing opportunities for Islamic boarding schools to establish Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) independently. “Pesantren with more than 1,000 santri can directly build their own SPPG. The pesantren foundation just needs to submit an application to the BGN,” he explained. According to Syafi’i, the government has also partnered with the Association of State-Owned Banks (Himbara) to assist in financing the construction of MBG kitchens in pesantren.