National Nutrition Agency Exposes Rp2,000 Deductions per Portion in Free Nutritious Meal Programme; Partner Agreements Updated
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) is implementing reforms to the management of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme after discovering several issues during field implementation.
One of the primary concerns highlighted by the Head of BGN, Sudaryono (also known as Mas Dar), is the existence of deductions imposed on partners by certain foundations. The amount of these deductions was found to reach between Rp1,500 and Rp2,000 per portion.
According to Sudaryono, this practice could negatively impact the quality of the food provided to beneficiaries. This is because partners subjected to these deductions must readjust their available budgets to provide the MBG menus.
“In practice, we have found a fact where there is conflict between partners and foundations. The partner is the one providing the capital, building the kitchens, and incurring costs. The foundation, however, is not aligned with its partners,” Sudorkan said during the inauguration of the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) for 3T regions and high stunting prevalence areas in 16 Eastern Indonesian provinces on Friday, 2 October 2026.
Deductions up to Rp2,000 per Portion
Sudaryono stated that the BGN received reports of partners being asked to provide levies or deductions to foundations, even when the relationship between the two parties was not functioning properly. The reported deduction amounts range between Rp1,500 and Rp2,000 for every food portion.
“There is a partner who is deducted 1,500, another is deducted 2,000—just imagine! What happens is, because of the deduction, the quality of the menu is reduced. This must not happen again,” Sudaryono emphasised.
The BGN believes this situation cannot be allowed to persist as it has the potential to diminish the quality of the programme’s execution. Furthermore, the primary objective of the MBG programme is to meet the nutritional needs of its beneficiaries.
Consequently, the BGN is taking steps to improve the cooperation mechanism between agencies, partners, foundations, and the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG).
Foundations Without Contribution Will Be Terminated
Sudaryono also asserted that the BGN will evaluate the involvement of foundations in the programme’s implementation. He stated that foundations that do not contribute to the execution of the MBG, but merely demand levies from partners, will not be maintained in the cooperation scheme.
“Simply put, those who have no role, do not mentor, do not participate in the effort, do not provide capital, do not supervise, and have no contribution whatsoever but only seek to collect levies—all of them will be… we will cut them off, we will amputate them all,” said Sudaryuno.