National Nutrition Agency: School Canteens to Serve as Alternative Kitchens for Free Nutritious Meal Programme to Ensure Efficiency

The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Nanik S. Deyang, stated that school canteens could serve as an alternative to dedicated kitchens for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Programme as part of an effort to ensure programme efficiency. Speaking to journalists at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday, Nanik explained that utilising school canteens is particularly feasible in areas with a relatively small number of beneficiaries, thereby removing the need for constructing new kitchens.

She noted that this approach could be implemented in remote areas, including the frontier, outermost, and least developed (3T) regions. “For example, in West Lombok, I visited an island with only 119 students. It would be impractical to establish a new kitchen there, but since there is a canteen, it can be utilised,” Nanik said.

In addition to school canteins, the BGN is also considering the use of existing facilities, such as communal kitchens established through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes. “For instance, in a region like Raja Ampat, I visited an island with only 115 students, but there is a communal kitchen provided through Pertamina’s CSR. We can use facilities like these. There are alternatives available, so we do not necessarily have to build new kitchens in 3T regions,” she added.

Nanik stated that these alternatives are part of an efficiency measure to ensure the programme’s implementation does not rely solely on the State Budget (APBN).

During the same session, Nanik addressed reports regarding several Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) allegedly suspending services due to delayed fund disbursements. She clarified that some circulating information did not reflect the actual situation, explaining that fund disbursements had been carried out gradually since last Friday and continued into Monday. According to reports received by the BGN, several SPPGs had already received their funds on Monday. “Disbursements began on Friday and continued this Monday. If I am not mistaken, we received reports that Rp5 trillion was disbursed today. Therefore, there is no issue; it is merely a technical matter,” she concluded.