Head of BGN: Free Nutritious Meals Stopped During School Holidays

The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, stated that Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) will continue to be provided in line with students’ attendance schedules at school and will stop being distributed during holidays. This statement was made by Dadan in response to plans to streamline the MBG programme by reducing the number of meal distributions to five days per week, which is assessed as potentially saving the state budget up to Rp40 trillion per year. “Specifically for schoolchildren, MBG will be distributed if they are present at school. If school is five days, they will receive MBG for five days, whereas if a school operates six days, MBG will be provided for six days. Based on the available data, the majority of schools operate for five days,” he said when confirmed via text message on Friday (27/3), quoted from Antara. Dadan emphasised that in 2026, BGN will focus on improving quality, in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s instructions, which is also one of the efforts to maintain the programme’s effectiveness. “The basis for MBG distribution consists of fresh ready-to-eat meals delivered to the beneficiary locations based on the registered lists. For pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers to posyandu or home, while for students to their respective schools. For santri and other religious schoolchildren to their boarding places. If there is a holiday, then MBG distribution stops,” he said. Previously, the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, stated that efficiencies in the MBG programme could potentially save the state budget up to Rp40 trillion per year. This efficiency is planned by reducing the number of operational days. MBG distribution is proposed to be five days per week from the previous six days. “Usually a week (MBG) is six days, he (the Head of BGN) says five days. So there is also efficiency from MBG, there is quite a significant reduction. He says it can (save) Rp40 trillion a year,” said Finance Minister Purbaya. According to him, this step demonstrates BGN’s efforts in budget efficiency amid turbulent economic conditions due to global geopolitical conflicts.