DIGIVESTASI - President Prabowo Subianto Announces Rp10,000 Budget for Free Nutritious Meals Program, President Prabowo Subianto announced that the government has allocated a budget of Rp10,000 per portion for free nutritious meals. He expressed confidence that this allocation would suffice to meet the needs of communities across various regions. The program is considered an additional measure to enhance public welfare.

Initially, Prabowo’s administration proposed a budget of Rp15,000 per portion. However, budget constraints required adjustments, resulting in a final allocation of Rp10,000.

“We wanted Rp15,000, but given the budget situation, Rp10,000 is sufficient. This amount has been calculated to ensure it meets quality and nutritional standards in all regions,” Prabowo stated on Friday, November 29, 2024.

Impact on Families

Prabowo highlighted the program’s benefits for families, using an example of families with three to four children who could receive up to Rp2.7 million monthly through the policy, in addition to other social assistance programs such as the Family Hope Program (Program Keluarga Harapan, PKH).

“The government strives to ensure that all layers of society receive protection through various social assistance and allowances,” he explained.

Proven Feasibility Through Trials

The Presidential Office clarified that the Rp10,000 budget per portion had undergone nearly a year of trial implementation in several regions. These trials demonstrated that the allocation could provide 600-700 calories per meal, meeting nutritional requirements.

“In Java, trials showed that Rp10,000 is sufficient to deliver nutritious meals providing 600-700 calories. This has been proven,” stated Hasan Nasbi, Head of the Presidential Communications Office, on November 30, 2024.

Hasan added that the trials were conducted in West Java, Central Java, and Jakarta. With a budget of Rp10,000 per portion, the program is expected to use Rp71 trillion from the 2025 State Budget (APBN). The primary targets include children in early childhood education (PAUD) through high school, toddlers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers in both public and private institutions.

Budget Debate and Adjustments

The budget adjustment sparked discussion earlier. The Prabowo-Gibran Transition Team had previously considered allocations of Rp9,000 or even Rp7,500 per portion. Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, remarked that Rp7,500 was already a significant amount in some areas. However, after considering national needs, Rp10,000 was deemed more appropriate.

“In certain areas, Rp7,500 is substantial. However, regional food prices vary, and the national standard requires Rp10,000,” Muhadjir explained on July 18, 2024.

Long-Term Target: 82.9 Million Beneficiaries by 2027

The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, shared that with the Rp10,000 allocation, the free nutritious meal program aims to cover up to 82.9 million individuals by 2027.

“Our target is 82.9 million beneficiaries by 2027. In December 2024, the program will begin with pilot projects across regions from Sabang to Merauke. Full-scale implementation will start in January 2025 at 923 locations,” Dadan stated on November 25, 2024.

Find more news and articles on Google News