DPR Member Says Child Nutrition Fulfilment Need Not Be Expensive, Urges Use of Local Potential
Member of Commission XII and the Budget Committee of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Cornelis, conducted a marathon working visit to the West Kalimantan I electoral district from 19 to 20 June 2026. The agenda focused on strengthening human resource quality through early nutritional intervention programmes.
The former two-term Governor of West Kalimantan met directly with residents and absorbed their aspirations in three villages and six hamlets within the Sengah Temila District, Landak Regency. The areas visited included Ubah Village, Sebatih Village, and Saham Village.
In addition to dialogue with local village heads, secretaries, and hamlet chiefs, Cornelis distributed nutritional aid as a tactical measure to support the government’s priority programme of reducing stunting prevalence.
Cornelis asserted that the blueprint for building a superior generation of national successors must begin from pregnancy through the first 1,000 days of life. This step serves as the fundamental foundation for children in West Kalimantan to grow competitively in the future.
“The development of Indonesia’s future generation must be prepared from the very beginning. From the womb until the first 1,000 days of life, nutritional needs must be addressed,” Cornelis said in a statement on Monday, 22 June 2026.
The legislator from the PDI Perjuangan faction educated residents not to fall into the stigma that fulfilling high-quality nutrition always requires expensive costs. He encouraged the community to optimise the abundant local food potential around their homes.
“Protein does not have to be expensive. There are many food sources easily available around us, such as river fish and chicken eggs. The important thing is that our children receive sufficient intake to grow healthily,” Cornelis explained.
According to Cornelis, improved nutritional status has a positive correlation with children’s physical and mental readiness when they begin formal education.
“Later they will go to school. If their nutrition is good and their health is good, then they can become intelligent and clever children. We want the next generation of West Kalimantan to grow up smart, clever, and brave,” he said.
In addition to discussing nutrition, Cornelis also reminded village officials and residents to maintain macro and micro environmental cleanliness around their households. He highlighted the importance of basic sanitation facilities, such as proper family toilets, as a preventive measure against recurrent infectious diseases in children.
“Besides food, the environment must also be considered. Homes must be clean, the environment must be healthy, and sanitation facilities like toilets must be available. This is part of the effort to build the quality of life for the community,” Cornelis concluded.