DPR Urges Use of Ministry Data as Basis for Free Nutritious Meals for Mothers and Toddlers

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The House of Representatives (DPR) has requested that family data from the Ministry of Population and Family Development (Kemendukbangga)/BKKBN be used as the primary basis for distributing the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers (3B) to ensure it is accurately targeted.

Chair of the DPR’s Commission IX, Felly Estelita Runtuwene, stated during a working meeting monitored from Jakarta on Wednesday that this data should serve as the foundation to accelerate coordination with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), ensuring that information on pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, toddlers, and families at risk of stunting can be utilised precisely.

“The DPR also encourages the expansion of 3B beneficiaries where possible and the strengthening of MBG 3B implementation evaluation, including distribution quality, nutritional fulfilment, and the involvement of Family Support Teams (TPK) to reflect real conditions on the ground,” she said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Population and Family Development and Head of BKKBN, Wihaji, outlined strategies to optimise the ministry’s role in the MBG 3B programme. These include training for Family Support Teams on MBG 3B, dissemination of Communication, Information, and Education (KIE) guidelines for cadres, and the preparation of distribution guidelines for accompanying cadres. He added that the approach also involves training on distribution mechanisms and MBG 3B education, as well as periodic data analysis and evaluation. Furthermore, the ministry will strengthen the role of ‘Dashat’ (Healthy Kitchens to Overcome Stunting) in supporting MBG in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions. According to data from the Family Planning Village website, the number of Dashat currently stands at 18,881.