Indonesia’s government launched a $28 billion initiative on Monday to tackle child malnutrition and stunting, aiming to provide free nutritious meals to nearly 90 million children and pregnant women by 2029. However, concerns over the program's affordability and feasibility have sparked debate.
The "Free Nutritious Meal Program" is a cornerstone of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, fulfilling a key campaign pledge. Subianto, who assumed office last year, has vowed to address the stunting crisis affecting 21.5% of Indonesian children under five and to boost farmers' incomes through the initiative.
“We must ensure no child goes to school hungry,” Subianto said during his inauguration in October. “Too many of our children lack breakfast and proper school clothing. This program is a step toward building a ‘Golden Indonesia’ generation by 2045.”
The program will provide free school lunches and milk to 83 million students across more than 400,000 schools, covering one-third of children’s daily caloric needs. Meals include staples like rice, vegetables, protein, and fruit, delivered daily by nearly 2,000 cooperatives.
On Monday, SD Cilangkap 08 primary school in Depok welcomed its first delivery of meals, including rice, stir-fried chicken, tempeh, vegetables, and oranges.
“We will send teams to each school to facilitate meal distribution every day,” said Hindayana, a government official overseeing the project.
While many applaud the effort to tackle malnutrition, critics have questioned its economic sustainability. Analysts warn that funding the program could strain state finances and increase national debt.
“The burden on our state budget is too heavy to meet 100% of the target recipients,” said Nailul Huda, a researcher at the Center of Economic and Law Studies. “This may hinder the government’s ability to achieve its ambitious GDP growth target of 8%.”
Additionally, critics caution that the reliance on imported staples like rice, wheat, and soybeans could exacerbate Indonesia’s balance of payments deficit.
Despite a slight reduction in stunting rates—from 22.3% in 2022 to 21.5% in 2023—Indonesia remains far from its target of a 14% prevalence by 2024, according to the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey. UNICEF data reveals that one in 12 children under five is underweight, while one in five is shorter than average due to malnutrition.
“Child malnourishment has severe consequences, threatening the health and development of future generations,” said Reni Suwarso, director of the Institute for Democracy, Security and Strategic Studies.
The program represents a bold move to combat these challenges, but its success will depend on effective implementation and sustainable funding. For now, the government remains committed to feeding the nation’s children and paving the way for a healthier future.