New Breakthrough by Nanik S. Deyang at BGN: Free Nutritious Meals in Elite Schools Evaluated, Focus Shifts to Vulnerable Groups

Jakarta – Amid the government’s efforts to strengthen the national nutrition improvement programme, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has once again come under the spotlight after announcing a major evaluation of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. This policy is considered a strategic step to ensure that state-funded food aid truly targets the groups most in need, rather than being distributed without clear priorities.

The BGN is currently sharpening or refocusing the MBG programme, particularly regarding its reach to students in elite schools. This evaluation is being conducted to assess the effectiveness of budget distribution and its impact on national nutritional equity.

Head of the National Nutrition Agency, Nanik Sudaryanti Deyang, stressed that this target adjustment aims to make the programme more effective and reach those who genuinely need it. Previously, MBG was provided universally to all students without considering the economic background of the school. This universal model is now deemed to require review so that it does not diminish the effectiveness of addressing nutritional problems in the lower strata of society.

“Yes, that’s correct (a restructuring). I mean those who are capable, the wealthy. So, later, for example, wealthy schools,” she stated.

Beyond the evaluation in the education sector, the BGN is also shifting the main focus of the MBG programme to underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions. These areas are still considered to face significant challenges in accessing nutrition and basic health services.

Furthermore, the groups of pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers (3B) are also becoming the main priority in the new MBG programme scheme. This step is deemed more strategic because these groups represent the most crucial phase for preventing stunting and long-term nutritional problems.

This policy is also in line with the directive of President Prabowo Subianto, who emphasised the importance of nutritional equity based on the most urgent needs within society. In its implementation, the BGN has issued a circular to the Nutritional Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG). Units that no longer serve MBG targets for the 3B group will reportedly be suspended as part of the distribution system restructuring.