Dirjenpas: 36 MBG Kitchens in Prisons Ready to Operate by End of May
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Director General of Corrections (Dirjenpas), Mashudi, stated that there are 36 kitchens for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme constructed on prison lands spread across various regions in Indonesia, ready to operate by the end of May.
“Hopefully by the end of May (they will operate). Currently, there are 18 (sites) plus another 18, making 36 kitchens that have been worked on and built. They will be operational by the end of May,” Mashudi said in Jakarta on Thursday.
According to Mashudi, the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections (Kemenimipas) is supporting the MBG programme by facilitating prison lands as sites for building MBG kitchens or Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG).
He explained that the MBG kitchens are built outside the prison compounds or within prison lands. It is ensured that under this programme, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) pays the rental fees, which are deposited into the state treasury as Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP).
“So there are (MBG kitchens), we have obtained 70 MBG kitchen sites, which will be built on prison lands, outside the prison compounds, in accordance with regulations. They (BGN) pay PNBP for the land rental,” he clarified.
In addition to providing land for rent as MBG kitchen locations, Dirjenpas is also supporting the MBG kitchens by providing kitchen staff, involving inmates.
Of the 46 MBG kitchen workers, 26 are professionals, and the remaining 20 are inmates (WBP).
Mashudi emphasised that the inmates employed in the MBG kitchens have undergone strict selection and assessment, including good health conditions.
“There will be 46 workers, 26 professionals, and 20 from inmates who have been assessed and can work in the kitchen to serve MBG,” he said.
“Currently, the construction progress of the kitchens is 90 percent. Hopefully, they will operate by the end of May. The kitchen facilities and infrastructure are built to BGN standards, using only prison land and with half the workers from inmates,” Mashudi stated.
The locations of the MBG kitchens on prison lands are spread across several regions, he said, such as Sumatra, Sulawesi, and other provinces.
Based on gathered data, MBG kitchens in prisons are already operational in Sukamiskin Prison as a pilot project, under construction in Batulicin Prison in South Kalimantan, and next in Bengkulu Prison.
Previously, Minister of Immigration and Corrections Agus Andrianto expressed support for the MBG programme implementation by involving inmates and using prison technical implementation unit (UPT) kitchen facilities that meet cleanliness, food safety, and hygiene standards.
Agus explained that currently, 469 kitchens in prisons and detention centres across Indonesia have hygiene certificates. On the other hand, 754 inmates have been certified or have undergone technical training in food service.