Finance Minister Purbaya: Exempting Wealthy from Free Meals Programme Could Save Budget

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has said there is potential for budget savings if the idea of excluding children from well-off families as recipients of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme is realised.

As is known, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is still studying the idea that children from affluent or wealthy economic groups should no longer be recipients of the MBG programme.

“There will certainly be some reduction — savings, not cuts. But it depends on how they work out the technicalities later,” said Purbaya after attending a coordination meeting on foreign exchange proceeds from natural resource exports (DHE SDA) at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs office in Jakarta on Thursday.

Nevertheless, Finance Minister Purbaya admitted he did not yet know the mechanism for implementing the policy in detail, as it falls under the authority of the BGN.

Purbaya also said he plans to meet with the new head of the BGN, Sudaryono, once the consolidation process within the agency is complete.

“The chairman has changed. Let’s let the consolidation happen first. It’s still consolidating. It was originally meant to be this week, but the chairman changed. There is a plan, but he is still consolidating. Let’s let things settle first,” he said.