Government reviews refocusing MBG on lower deciles, SMP students
BGN has one month to finish the review, while a DPR proposal would cut the target from 82 million to 26 million.
The government is restructuring the target group for the free nutritious meal program, known as MBG, to make it more efficient and trim the budget. The National Nutrition Agency is weighing options to prioritize families in lower deciles, underdeveloped regions, areas with high stunting rates and children from toddlers through SMP students. BGN deputy head Trenggono said President Prabowo Subianto gave one month to complete the review. In the DPR, Deputy Commission IX chairman Yahya Zaini proposed that SMA students no longer be targeted because their nutrition intervention needs are seen as lower. At a hearing, Celios said MBG recipients could be cut from 82 million to 26 million to match the original goal of improving child nutrition and reducing stunting. Commission IX also plans to form a working committee to fix the program.