Free Nutritious Meals Programme for Elderly and Persons with Disabilities to Partner with Nutrition Service Units
Jakarta – The Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, commonly known as Gus Ipul, announced that the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme for elderly citizens and persons with disabilities will partner with Nutrition Service Units (SPPG).
“Currently, services are provided by Community Groups (Pokmas). Going forward, they will be provided by SPPG, but the community workers from Pokmas will still be involved in delivery,” Gus Ipul said at the Ministry of Social Affairs office in Central Jakarta on Friday, 27 February 2026.
“This is the plan, but we will refine it further so that we can have more kitchens and reach more elderly people,” he explained.
“SPPG will prepare the meals, whilst Ministry staff including caregivers will handle distribution,” he added.
Nevertheless, Gus Ipul acknowledged that these figures could change as the MBG concept for elderly citizens and persons with disabilities remains in the planning stage.
“Looking ahead, we hope to reach between 300,000 and 500,000 beneficiaries. We are aiming for larger beneficiary numbers, but everything is still in the planning phase,” he said.
The MBG programme for elderly citizens and persons with disabilities represents a continuation of the Ministry’s existing Permakanan (Nutrition) programme, under which elderly people and persons with disabilities receive ready-to-eat meals through social workers and community groups in their respective areas.
“The national MBG scheme will be integrated to broaden coverage under Permakanan and establish more measurable nutritional standards,” Gus Ipul said following a meeting with Head of the Nutrition Work Unit (BGN) Dadan Hindayana, according to a press statement issued on Thursday, 26 February 2026.
Meanwhile, BGN Head Dadan Hindayana stated that the MBG programme for elderly citizens and persons with disabilities will become more streamlined with the introduction of SPPG.
“I believe that what has been the responsibility of the Ministry of Social Affairs will be made easier with SPPG’s presence in every region, as SPPG units are located throughout Indonesia with an average radius of 4 kilometres,” Dadan said.