Free Nutritious Meal Programme for the Elderly and People with Disabilities to be Launched Soon: Here's the Scheme!

Thu, 26 Feb 2026, 13:37 WIB | By Gana Buana | Source: MEDIA_INDONESIA | Social Policy

The Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) and the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) are finalising the implementation scheme for the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG) for the elderly and people with disabilities. The alignment of concepts and the division of roles between agencies were discussed directly by Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf and Head of BGN Dadan Hindayana at the BGN Office, Jakarta, Wednesday (25/2).

Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, also known as Gus Ipul, affirmed that this coordination focuses on strengthening the programme design to ensure effective and targeted implementation.

“Thank God, today we finalised the free nutritious meal programme specifically for the elderly and people with disabilities. The concept is becoming clearer, and the form of cooperation is more concrete,” said Gus Ipul.

The MBG programme for the elderly and people with disabilities is a development of the existing Food Programme run by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Previously, ready-to-eat food assistance was distributed through social workers and community groups (Pokmas).

Through integration into the national MBG scheme, the programme aims to expand the reach of beneficiaries with more measurable and standardised nutritional standards.

In the new scheme, food provision will utilise the Nutrition Service Units (SPPG) owned by the BGN, which are spread across various regions. Meanwhile, distribution to beneficiaries will continue to be carried out through the Ministry of Social Affairs’ social service network.

“The SPPG will still be responsible for preparing the meals, while the distribution will be carried out by Pokmas or caregivers,” explained Gus Ipul.

The target of this programme is the elderly and people with disabilities who are registered in the National Socio-Economic Data (DTSEN), specifically those in the 1st to 5th decile groups. Priority will be given to vulnerable elderly and people with severe disabilities who have difficulty meeting their basic daily needs.

The Head of BGN, Dadan Hindayana, believes that this collaboration will strengthen the effectiveness of services because the SPPG network is already present in various regions with a relatively close proximity to the community.

“With the SPPG, which is on average located within a radius of about 4 kilometres, service delivery will be much easier. Provision from us, distribution by the Ministry of Social Affairs. This is a synergy that optimises existing facilities,” said Dadan.

This integration is expected to not only expand coverage but also ensure that nutritional interventions for vulnerable groups are carried out in a more systematic and sustainable manner. (Z-10)

Persis is very serious in building SPPG kitchens by prioritising quality and professionalism.

The BGN affirmed that the budget for the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG) is Rp10,000, not Rp15,000 per serving, said Nanik S Deyang.

The BGN affirmed that the priority of the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG) is to provide nutritional intake to vulnerable groups, including toddlers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers, as the primary priority.

Because the Financial Supervisor’s job is related to accounting, daily budget expenditure reports to the BGN dashboard, and supervision of the food purchase budget.

The Social Forestry Programme provides legal access for communities to manage forests, utilise the results, and maintain sustainability.

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) affirmed that the budget for food ingredients for the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG) is Rp8,000-10,000 per serving. The remaining budget is allocated for the operation and facilities of the SPPG.

The BGN affirmed that the SPPG kitchen for the Free Nutritious Meal Programme should not rely on a few suppliers. MSMEs, farmers, breeders, and local fishermen must be involved as suppliers.

The BGN denied the viral narrative that partners in the Free Nutritious Meal Programme were profiting Rp1.8 billion per year. This figure is said to be gross income, not net profit.

The Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG) is considered to not only have an impact on meeting the nutritional needs of the community but also have a significant domino effect on the national economy.

The Ministry of Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia monitors the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal Programme at the SPPG Dauh Peken 5, Tabanan, Bali to ensure the fulfilment of the right to nutritious food for children.

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