Free Meal Programme Launched in Indonesia

JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s ambitious multi-billion dollar programme to provide free meals to over a quarter of the population officially began on Monday, officials reported, with 570,000 beneficiaries on its opening day.

Despite being a key element of his election campaign that brought him to power last year, the programme launched quietly with no formal event, involving just 190 kitchens to prepare meals for school children and pregnant women across more than 20 provinces.

The initiative is expected to be a daunting logistical challenge, aiming to serve 82.9 million of the country’s 280 million people by 2029.

While Prabowo’s signature policy has been met with controversy, particularly regarding projected costs of $28 billion over five years raising concerns among economists about potential impacts on Indonesia’s fiscal stability, he has defended the programme as vital for combating child malnutrition and promoting regional economic growth. This initial phase is estimated to cost 71 trillion rupiah ($4.39 billion), providing meals to 15 million individuals.

At a West Jakarta elementary school, staff distributed trays containing rice, fried chicken, fried tofu, beans, and oranges. Parent Hana Yohana expressed hope for the programme’s continuation, stating it alleviates her morning routine significantly.

The government and military will assist in meal preparation and distribution, with pilot programmes already underway distributing food trays. The number of recipients is set to grow to 3 million by March and continue expanding throughout the year, as indicated by spokesperson Dedek Prayudi.

Dedek added that while milk would be provided occasionally, Indonesia has imported dairy cows from Australia to enhance local milk production.

($1 = 16,193.0000 rupiah)